Sharjah24 – Reuters: Ukraine launched its biggest ever drone attack on Moscow on Tuesday but air defences destroyed all eight of the drones, Russia said, bringing the 15-month war in Ukraine to the heart of the capital.

Drone attacks deep inside Russia have intensified in recent weeks ahead of an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive, with strikes on oil pipelines and even the Kremlin earlier this month that Moscow has blamed on Ukraine.

Drone debris hit some of Moscow most prestigious areas including Leninsky Prospekt, a grand avenue crafted under Josef Stalin, and the area of western Moscow where the Russian elite - including President Vladimir Putin - have their residences.

Residents in south-western Moscow said they heard loud bangs at around 0200 to 0300 GMT, followed by the smell of petrol. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline.

Putin was briefed early in the morning on the drone attacks, the Kremlin said, adding that Russia's air defences and military had worked well so there was no threat to the Moscow residents.