MOSCOW — April 11, 2025
Russian air defence forces were filmed opening fire on a mysterious unidentified flying object (UFO) hovering over the Moscow region, sparking confusion and speculation across the globe. The strange aircraft, described by witnesses as a “UFO helicopter,” appeared during the early hours of Thursday amid ongoing drone warfare near the Russian capital.
Dramatic footage shared on social media showed the unidentified object spinning with a red central core and a rotating white outer ring, emitting glowing particles as it hovered over Naro-Fominsk, a district just southwest of Moscow. Russian anti-aircraft units were seen launching volleys of fire at the object, with little success.
Despite the barrage, the aircraft seemed to evade most of the strikes and remained airborne, raising further questions about its origin and capabilities. Some military analysts speculated the object could be a “helicopter-type drone,” possibly resembling the Ukrainian RZ-500. However, experts noted that the RZ-500’s range is only 186 miles—insufficient to reach Moscow from Ukraine.
Adding to the confusion, a Ukrainian military Telegram channel claimed that the Russians had mistakenly fired at one of their own helicopters. “Russian air defence near Moscow tried to take down its own helicopter, mistaking it for an enemy UAV,” the channel reported, mocking the incident.
Other online sources ridiculed the Russian military’s response, with one post saying: “It’s a helicopter, dumb**** – in the Moscow region they were hunting drones so hard that they almost shot down their own helicopter.”
No confirmed reports have emerged of a drone or helicopter being downed during the exchange, and there were no immediate claims of damage or casualties.
The incident occurred alongside a wave of drone activity across western Russia. On Wednesday night alone, Russian forces claimed to have intercepted 48 Ukrainian drones. Of these, 13 were reportedly shot down over the Bryansk and Kursk regions, and another 12 over Kaluga.
Residents in Naro-Fominsk reported hearing explosions and spotting drones flying in from the southwest. Ukrainian reconnaissance aircraft were also spotted in the region, with several reportedly evading Russian missile defences and exiting the area undamaged.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have reportedly advanced into Russia’s Belgorod region, seizing territory and intensifying the conflict on the ground. This comes on the heels of a drone strike on a major Russian oil refinery in March, part of a broader wave of Ukrainian drone assaults on Moscow and other strategic targets.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has yet to officially comment on the “UFO” incident or confirm the nature of the aircraft involved.
As speculation continues, military experts and intelligence analysts around the world are closely examining footage of the encounter, with many asking the same question: What exactly was flying over Moscow that night?
