Seven Injured as Ukrainian Drone Debris Hits Apartment Block Near Moscow

Debris from a Ukrainian drone sparked a fire in an apartment building northwest of Moscow, injuring seven individuals, according to Russian officials on Friday.

The nighttime incident occurred in Tver, a city located approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) from the Russian capital, amid an intensified drone offensive from Ukraine as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

Vitaly Korolyov, the interim governor of the region, reported via Telegram that six adults and one child sustained injuries, and about 20 residents were evacuated from the multi-story building in the city, which has a population exceeding 400,000.

«In Tver, we are dealing with the aftermath of drone debris impacting a residential structure,» Korolyov stated.

An AFP video from the scene illustrated a damaged apartment block, with scorched windows across several floors, while surveillance footage captured a drone colliding with the building overnight.

Natalia, a resident from a nearby home, recounted to AFP, «We witnessed a massive blaze. The flames were incredibly intense. It wasn’t until the fire was put out that we truly grasped the severity of the situation and the tragedy that unfolded.»

A nearby circus also suffered damage, as shown in the AFP footage.

Ukraine, which has been enduring near-daily artillery and air assaults since Russia began its invasion in February 2022, has initiated drone strikes aimed at targeting Russian military and energy facilities.

The Russian military reported that they intercepted 90 Ukrainian drones during the night.

This incident follows one of Kyiv’s most significant drone offensives against Russia in the ongoing conflict, where nearly 300 drones were downed on Thursday.