Explosion hits Moscow skyscraper during kamikaze drone attack on the Russian capital’s elite financial and government zone

Ukraine carried out another kamikaze drone attack on Moscow’s skyscraper district in the early hours of this morning, causing a massive explosion that sent debris falling to the ground.

Dramatic video shows the moment the explosion ripped through the new One Tower, which is under construction in Moscow’s prestigious business and government zone, about three miles from the Kremlin.

The high-rise building was hit by one of three military UAVs that planned to attack Moscow overnight, the impact of the explosion sending pieces of concrete and glass flying around.

After the drone attack, several windows were smashed in two nearby buildings, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, adding that there were no casualties.

It was the sixth day in a row that drones have been aimed at Moscow during the nearly 18-month conflict, which has now stalled as Ukrainian forces mount a sharp counter-offensive.

Ukraine carried out another kamikaze drone attack on Moscow’s skyscraper district in the early hours of this morning, causing a massive explosion that sent debris falling to the ground. In the photo: smoke from the explosion

A woman inspects the damage sustained to a Moscow International Business Center building after a drone strike in Moscow on Wednesday

Police officers stand guard at the wreckage site of a drone in Moscow’s business district after Wednesday’s drone strike

Once again there was disruption at Moscow’s four main airports as flights were suspended during the drone strikes.

Sobyanin said: “Air defense downed a drone in the Mozhaisky district of the Moscow region, while another unmanned aerial vehicle hit a building under construction in the city.”

Russia later claimed there were three drones in total, two of which were shot down by air defense systems in the Mozhaisk and Khimki areas of the Moscow region, while the third was reportedly jammed by electronic warfare weapons before hitting the skyscraper.

Damage was also reported to buildings in Khimki, a suburb close to the major international airport of Sheremetyevo.

“The city’s emergency services are inspecting the area within the city limits for the effects of the strike,” the mayor said.

Several windows were smashed in two adjacent five-storey buildings. There were no casualties.’

The explosion in the downtown skyscraper district occurred near the iconic 75-story Mercury City Tower. Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene, but there were no reports of casualties.

Law enforcement officers work at the scene of a drone strike outside the Moscow International Business Center following the drone strike on Wednesday

This photo shows a broken window of a residential building after a drone strike in Moscow on Wednesday

News agency RIA Novosti reported that an ‘explosion’ was heard in the business district.

Moments later, smoke billowed from buildings in the same area.

In recent weeks, two other drone strikes over Moscow’s financial district were repelled, each attack causing minor damage to the facades of tall buildings.

The Moscow region, hundreds of miles from the frontline, has been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks, although there are no reports of major damage.

There were also reports of explosions in the suburb of Odintsovo, believed to have been caused by Russian air defenses targeting incoming kamikaze drones.

Residents previously heard the sound of a flying drone.

In recent weeks, two other drone strikes over Moscow’s financial district were repelled, each attack causing minor damage to the facades of tall buildings.

Ukraine does not usually admit responsibility for the attacks, but they are widely believed to have been carried out in response to Vladimir Putin’s relentless bombing of Kiev and other major cities.

Britain said it did not encourage or enable Ukrainian attacks in Russia.

But a US State Department spokesman said today that it is up to Ukraine to decide how to defend itself against the Russian invasion that began last February.

Russia could end the war at any time by withdrawing from Ukraine, the report said.

The number of drone strikes deep in Russia has increased since two unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed over the Kremlin in early May.

The United States, which has provided Ukraine with massive aid in the form of weapons and other military equipment to fight the Russian invasion, has consistently said it does not support attacks inside Russia.