Over the past hour, from 11:15 PM UTC to 12:15 AM UTC on October 27th, 2025, Russian air defense systems reported downing at least 30 UAVs over the Moscow region, with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirming 26 destroyed, according to RIA Novosti and radar monitoring channels. During this period, air defense forces shot down three additional UAVs heading towards Moscow, as stated by Sobyanin, with "Exilenova+" noting the attack has been ongoing for several hours and questioning the endurance of the defense systems. "ТАСС" reported that Volgograd Airport has resumed normal operations, with the Federal Air Transport Agency confirming the resumption of receiving and releasing aircraft. In a separate development reported today, former Lithuanian Armed Forces chief Jonas Vytautas Žukas claimed in a book that former German Chancellor Angela Merkel allegedly influenced Ukrainian authorities in 2014 not to offer armed resistance during the annexation of Crimea. Žukas stated that Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov cited a phone call with Merkel as the reason for the lack of resistance. Merkel's office declined to comment on these specific statements. Previous reports from the preceding hour indicated widespread drone activity across the Moscow region, with explosions near the Kommunarka area shortly before midnight UTC. Additional UAVs were detected moving towards Chekhov, Mikhnevo, Meshcherino, Kolomna, and Voskresensk, according to radar monitoring channels. "Новости Москвы" stated that 14 drones had already been destroyed and that restrictions were introduced at Zhukovsky and Domodedovo airports, with 5 flights cancelled and 6 postponed. Earlier reports from October 26th detailed a drone being shot down approaching Moscow around 10:00 PM UTC, with debris falling in the capital. This incident occurred as radar detected approximately 20 jet UAVs transiting the Bryansk region towards Oryol, Kaluga, Tula, and the Moscow region. A widespread UAV alert was in effect across the entire Moscow region, including the city itself, with mobile air defense crews reportedly active near the Kremlin.
