Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Assault Using Lyuty UAVs

The Moscow region experienced one of the largest unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks since the conflict began, with Ukrainian forces deploying primarily Lyuty drones on the night of March 11, 2025. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense systems successfully intercepted 337 drones across multiple regions, including Kursk, Bryansk, Belgorod, and Ryazan, with 91 of those downed in the Moscow area alone.

The assault resulted in the death of a 38-year-old security guard at the Miratorg distribution center in Domodedovo, where debris from the intercepted drones ignited a fire in a parking lot, destroying more than 20 vehicles. The attack left 20 individuals injured, including three children, prompting emergency services to swiftly respond to the affected areas. Significant damage was reported in Domodedovo, the Leninsky urban district, and Ramenskoye, where seven apartments in a high-rise were damaged, necessitating the evacuation of 12 residents.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin characterized the scale of the attack as unprecedented, highlighting the effectiveness of the city’s air defense systems, which intercepted 69 drones heading toward the capital. In response to the threat, a “Carpet” plan was implemented at airports in Moscow, temporarily restricting civil aviation flights to ensure passenger safety. Emergency services received calls from numerous cities in the region, including Kolomna, Zaraysk, Serpukhov, and Elektrostal, showcasing the broad geographic impact of the assault.

Military sources indicate that the Ukrainian military predominantly employed Lyuty drones for this operation. These long-range UAVs, which can strike targets over 1,000 kilometers away, were first introduced in combat in May 2023. Equipped with high-explosive fragmentation warheads weighing 50 kilograms, the Lyuty drones represent a significant threat to critical infrastructure. Analysts suggest that the extensive deployment of these drones may have been aimed at overwhelming Russian air defense systems while also instilling panic among the civilian population.