Russia Says Ukraine Attacked Moscow with Drones 

Noctilucent clouds are seen over the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 4, 2023. (Reuters)
Noctilucent clouds are seen over the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 4, 2023. (Reuters)
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Russia Says Ukraine Attacked Moscow with Drones 

Noctilucent clouds are seen over the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 4, 2023. (Reuters)
Noctilucent clouds are seen over the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 4, 2023. (Reuters)

Russia said on Tuesday that Ukraine had launched a drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region that disrupted flights at one of the capital's main airports. 

At least three drones were intercepted in the skies over the Moscow region - including two just 30 km (19 miles) southwest of the Kremlin, Russian news agencies said. One drone was detected in the neighbouring Kaluga region. 

Landings and takeoffs at Moscow's Vnukovo were restricted for several hours early on Tuesday before normal operations resumed after 0500 GMT. A number of flights were diverted on their approach to other airports. 

"The Kyiv regime's attempt to attack an area where civilian infrastructure is located, including the airport, which incidentally also receives foreign flights, is yet another act of terrorism," Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova said. 

"The international community should realize that the United States, Britain, France - permanent members of the UN Security Council - are financing a terrorist regime," she said. 

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv. Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine. 

"At this moment, the attacks have been repelled by air defense forces," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram messaging channel. "All detected drones have been eliminated." 

There were no casualties reported, he added. 

One drone was shot down in the area of the town of Kubinka, some 63 km (40 miles) west of Moscow, RIA reported. A Russian air base is near Kubinka. 

Two drones were shot down near the village of Valuevo, the RIA news agency reported. The village is about 30 km (19 miles) southwest of the Kremlin. One was in the Kaluga region, which borders the Moscow region. 



Pope Francis, Asked about Israeli Strikes, Slams Attacks That Go ‘Beyond Morality’

Pope Francis talks to journalists on the flight back to Rome at the end of his four-day visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)
Pope Francis talks to journalists on the flight back to Rome at the end of his four-day visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)
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Pope Francis, Asked about Israeli Strikes, Slams Attacks That Go ‘Beyond Morality’

Pope Francis talks to journalists on the flight back to Rome at the end of his four-day visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)
Pope Francis talks to journalists on the flight back to Rome at the end of his four-day visit to Belgium and Luxembourg, September 29, 2024. (Reuters)

Pope Francis, asked on Sunday about Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as well as non-combatants, criticized military attacks that he said go "beyond morality".

On the flight back to Rome from Belgium, the pontiff said countries cannot go "over the top" in using their military forces. "Even in war there is a morality to safeguard," he said. "War is immoral. But the rules of war give it some morality."

Responding to a question during an in-flight press conference about Israel's latest strikes, the 87-year-old pope said: "Defense must always be proportionate to the attack. When there is something disproportionate, you see a tendency to dominate that goes beyond morality."

Francis, as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, often makes calls for an end to violent conflicts, but is usually cautious about appearing to determine the aggressors. He has spoken more openly in recent weeks about Israel's military actions in its nearly year-long war against Hamas.

Last week, the pope said Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon were "unacceptable" and urged the international community to do everything possible to halt the fighting. In a Sept. 28 press conference, he decried the deaths of Palestinian children in Israeli strikes in Gaza.

Francis said on Sunday he speaks on the phone with members of a Catholic parish in Gaza "every day". He said the parishioners tell him about conditions on the ground, and "also the cruelty that is happening there".