MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) – In view of increasing drone attacks on the Russian capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has spoken of expanding its own air defense. “This year we have done a lot to protect Moscow from drones and attempted terrorist attacks,” Sobyanin told the Interfax agency on Thursday evening in front of representatives of municipal companies. In the past few weeks, new anti-aircraft systems have been installed, sometimes on a daily basis, claimed Sobyanin, who wants to be re-elected in more than a week. “Sometimes the asphalt doesn’t even have time to cool down – and then the rockets are deployed, shooting down the flying drones.”
Independent observers, on the other hand, have repeatedly expressed doubts about official reports that many of the suspected Ukrainian drones were recognized and shot down by Moscow’s air defenses. The unmanned missiles have repeatedly penetrated into the city center in recent weeks and caused damage there, for example in the famous skyscraper district of Moscow City. However, the consequences of the attacks bear no relation to the consequences of the war in Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, where thousands of civilians have already been killed./haw/DP/he