Russia has leveled additional accusations against Ukraine following a drone attack on Moscow, the capital city. Kremlin officials claimed that the Russian defense force successfully intercepted and downed five Ukrainian drones in the Moscow region, describing the incident as a “terrorist act” that disrupted operations at Vnukovo International Airport.
Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, stated on Telegram that the attack was an attempt by the Kyiv regime to target a zone housing vital civil infrastructure, including an airport that serves international flights.
According to the Russian military, all five drones were successfully neutralized without causing any damage or casualties. Four of the drones were destroyed by anti-air defense systems, while the fifth was incapacitated through electronic means before crashing.
Emergency services, as reported by RIA Novosti news agency, confirmed that one of the drones was neutralized near Kubinka, located approximately 40 kilometers from Vnukovo. The airport experienced a brief interruption due to the attack, leading to the redirection of several flights. However, Russia’s air transport agency announced that normal traffic at Vnukovo resumed at 5 am local time.
The drone attack coincided with an upcoming address by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where Iran is expected to join the Asian alliance.
This summit marks Putin’s first public appearance since a recent mutiny, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group. The mutiny, which quickly subsided, involved a failed rebellion against the Kremlin.
This morning the Moscow region was attacked by unknown drones. An explosion is reported on the territory of a military unit in Kubinka, the neighboring Vnukovo airport has stopped accepting aircraft. pic.twitter.com/PVM5nxfwD4
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) July 4, 2023
In the morning, drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked New Moscow and the suburbs, some of them were shot down.
It is reported that one blow hit the administrative building at one of the military facilities in Kubinka. pic.twitter.com/mP1APHeTCy
— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) July 4, 2023
India is currently hosting a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), with participation from the leaders of Russia, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries. The SCO, established in 2001 to address security and economic matters, has its headquarters in Beijing but is being hosted by New Delhi, which currently holds the rotating chair of the organization.
The summit will feature addresses from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as confirmed by the Kremlin and Chinese state media, respectively. In addition to India, Russia, Pakistan, and China, the SCO includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as full members, with Belarus and Mongolia invited as observers.
Spanning a vast geographical area from Moscow to Beijing, the SCO represents around half of the world’s population, considering member states, observers, and “dialogue partner” nations. India finds itself in a unique position as a member of both the SCO and the Quad, a group formed with the United States, Japan, and Australia to counter China’s increasing assertiveness.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently received a state visit in Washington, highlighting the strong ties between India and the United States. Simultaneously, India maintains a longstanding alliance with Russia, its largest arms supplier. Furthermore, India has been an avid purchaser of discounted Russian oil during the conflict in Ukraine.
As India assumes the chairmanship of the SCO and prepares to host the G20 summit in September, the country faces a delicate diplomatic balancing act. India’s relationship with China is complicated by ongoing territorial disputes, while its engagement with the United States and Russia adds further layers of complexity.
Iran is expected to join the SCO, seeking to reduce its isolation, improve its economy, and project strength on the international stage. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani expressed the belief that SCO membership would benefit both Iran and the organization, particularly in terms of promoting economic development among member nations.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, India’s neighboring arch-rival, will also participate in the summit. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the SCO as an important forum for regional security and prosperity, as stated by Islamabad’s foreign ministry.