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10 Things You Didn't Know About The Ghosts 'N Goblins Series

Over the 20+ years since the first Ghosts 'n Goblins game came out, a lot has happened to the franchise. Here are 10 things that you didn't know!

Modern gaming is full of quality-of-life conveniences like fast travel, infinite lives, and much more. Though, these things would not exist today had the frustration due to older games lacking them not been a burden upon the minds of gamers in the '80s and '90s. During this era, some games were not exactly meant to be beaten; at least, not without a great deal of practice. Their replay value depended immensely on both their high degree of challenge and how fun they were to play, despite the difficulty.

RELATED: The 20 Hardest Video Games Of All Time

One series that is the best known for these aspects is the  Ghosts 'n Goblins franchise. This series originated from a time when lore, world information, as well as production history, was often cryptically revealed (or not at all), therefore even longtime fans of the franchise don't quite know everything about this legendary chain of challenging games.

10 The First Game In The Series Is On 12 Platforms

Since the initial 1985 release date of the first game in the series,  Ghosts 'n Goblins , it has appeared on a total of 12 different platforms over the 26 years of its existence. It is still considered one of the best games in the series, and rightly so, as its success was the reason all subsequent games were made.

Ghosts 'n Goblins  is available on the following platforms:

• Arcade (cabinet)
• Amstrad CPC
• Commodore 64
• Game Boy Color
• ZX Spectrum

9 There Is Only One Way To Beat Ghouls 'N Ghosts

The second game in the franchise, known as  Ghouls 'n Ghosts , is equally as tough as the first, as players need to go through the entire game's world twice to beat it in any given playthrough. The first time one approaches the final boss' lair, the archangel Michael will bar the way and tell the protagonist, a knight named Arthur, that the only way to defeat Lucifer (sometimes called Loki in different versions) is to use a special weapon known as the Psycho Cannon.

So the player gets transported back to the start of the first area and must open a chest while wearing the Golden Armor for the Goddess of Battle to reveal herself and bestow this powerful fireball  skill onto him. Then it is just a matter of going through the entire game again before facing down the devil himself in a wickedly dangerous duel .

8 Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts Has A Weird Gameplay Switch

The follow-up game to  Ghouls 'n Ghosts , titled  Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts , appropriately appeared on the SNES  and struck many of the same chords that its two predecessors did, though with improved graphics, more weapons, and enemy types for an increased variety that fans loved .

One of the most groundbreaking changes was that the protagonist, knight Arthur, was now able to double jump. This added an entirely new level of tactics that players could take advantage of, both for the offense by closing distance quicker and for the defense, allowing Arthur to evade incoming damage by a greater margin. However, the hero, for some reason, at the same time lost his ability to attack upwards, making battles with flying foes all the more tricky.

7 The Fourth Game In The Series Was A Japan-Only Release

Despite the previous three games being hugely successful and had very wide releases, the fourth installment,  Makaimura for WonderSwan (yes, the title had the console's name in it) was only released in Japan and only on the WonderSwan system.

RELATED: 10 Video Games That Were Only Released In Japan

This seemed like a step backward for the franchise as the WonderSwan is a system only capable of displaying visuals in black and white. In addition, there were fewer weapons than in the previous game for the player to use.

6 The Series Went The Mobile-Only Route

Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights appeared only on mobile phones in 2009 and was aimed at a completely new audience than previous games in the franchise. Despite not appearing on traditional platforms, gamers were pretty happy with seeing this franchise get some attention on the mobile market.

The gameplay and visuals weren't the most polished but were still well thought out and even gave players a choice of two characters with different stats: Arthur, the more defense-oriented hero from past games, and Lancelot, a new knight who prioritized speed over all else .

5 They Made A Sequel For The Mobile Game

Sticking with the mobile-only route, Capcom made a sequel to  Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights  aptly called  Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights II . Taking criticisms that some players had about the first mobile game in the series, the developers came back with new and improved mechanics and features that reduced some less desirable qualities.

However, they kept things like having multiple characters to play as and most of the overlay that sought to emulate the feel of the older games, though with a touch-screen instead of a traditional controller.

4 Puzzle Game Spin-Off

In the most bizarre spin-off from the main series, Capcom released a puzzle game for  Ghosts 'n Goblins in 1996 that emulated the basic, yet addictive, puzzle game known as  Sid & Al's Incredible Toons.

RELATED: 10 Forgotten Puzzle Games You Need To Play

This spooky reimagining copied the same general vibe and many mechanics from the puzzle game but used  Ghosts 'n Goblins characters, items, and other imagery instead. The title of this Japan-only release that appeared on the original PlayStation and the Sega Saturn was titled  Arthur to Astaroth no Nazomakaimura: Incredible Toons .

3 Return Of The Main Series & Series Project Head

In 2006, the main series returned after a 7-year drought on the PSP with  Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins . With this reemergence came the genius who was the major reason for the original game, and its classic-era sequels, Tokuro Fugiwara.

The project head took his role as seriously as before and helped guide his team of developers into creating what is arguably the best game in the franchise. Sir Arthur returns to slay fiends of more numerous varieties than ever before and can now do so with a novel equipment system that allowed for different pieces of armor to be equipped independently as well as multiple weapons to be stored in an inventory.

2 Retelling For A New Era

On February 25, 2021, a brand new game in this series was released, though it is a retelling, or reboot, of the franchise. The progression, enemies, levels, and bosses are very similar to the original game as well as the second one in the chain of spooky titles.

Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is currently only out for the Nintendo Switch  and not only allows a new generation to get into the fun of the earliest games but also incorporates a bunch of mechanics that have become popular over the franchise's long history.

1 Sir Arthur Appears In Other Games

In addition to appearing in every  Ghosts 'n Goblins title, Sir Arthur has shown up in other games as well, most notably the  Marvel vs. Capcom games. Like in his series, Arthur uses a variety of weapons to attack his opponents such as his iconic lance as well as swords, bombs, scythes, and more.

The armored warrior expectedly specializes in physical prowess and higher fighting capabilities than many others. His attacks have great range, as he throws many of his weapons. His shorter stature can also be an advantage, as he doesn't need a large hitbox to get in range to hurt his foes.

NEXT: Top 10 Retro Indie Games That Will Make Players Feel Nostalgic

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Ghosts 'N Goblins

Available platforms: amiga , nes , commodore 64 , game boy color.

Ghosts 'N Goblins is a popular arcade released by Capcom in 1985 and later ported to many home platforms.

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Game Review

The Amiga version was published by Elite in 1990, several years after the original Capcom coin-op. It was released a few months after the release of the sequel, Ghouls 'N Ghosts , by US Gold.

The legendary platformer featuring Sir Arthur trying to survive the demons' village was designed by Tokuro Fujiwara (also the author of Commando and many other games). The arcade was initially released in 1985 and was ported to many home computers and consoles. The Commodore 64 was probably the best until, 5 years later, the Amiga version was finally out. Graphics, music, and gameplay are the most faithful you can expect. This is universally considered the best port of Ghosts 'N Goblins . Unfortunately, the difficulty level is also quite faithful, which means the game is almost impossible unless you use the options provided in the package: unlimited lives, invulnerability, unlimited time, and more.

Enjoy, and beware of the zombies!

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Ghosts 'N Goblins Series

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• Ghosts'n Goblins new batch

The 2020 MSX game ROM release Ghosts'n Goblins gets a re-release. Here's your next chance to get a physical copy of the game.

The first ever edition of the classic game Ghosts'n Goblins was released by Capcom in 1985 at the arcade halls, and has seen many ports for various computers and consoles. It was a major commercial success, and sadly the MSX didn't get its version. Untill later, in 2008, an MSX1 version appeared. In this platform game you control knight Arthur through the various stages to save his beloved who's been kidnapped by a messenger of Satan.

Unsatisfied with the simple screens for that version, Antonio Estrada - aka Assembler - decided to craft a v9990 version. Assembler's version got released a few years ago on a ROM cartridge including an SCC chip, and SRAM to save progress. The pimped up GnG version runs on a default MSX1 computer with an V9990 video extension. It uses the R800 CPU when the ROM is used on an MSX turbo R computer. While SCC music is being implemented, it can even play the original arcade tracks in combination with an SFG-05, Neotron, or Makoto cartridges. Nice going.

Being sold-out quickly, the developer created a new batch of the product using a different model cartridge, but with the original SCC and SRAM features. It's the same game, running on any MSX with an v9990 video extension. Assembler has put up an online form to show interest. Here's your chance to get a copy of this unique game.

relevant link: reservation form for GnG .

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Comments (4)

By Bengalack

Paladin (805)

29-09-2023, 17:51

Let's face it, how many good games are there for the v9990? So, if you have one, this is a must-have game I think.

Expert (122)

29-09-2023, 18:26

I have one. Awesome work from Antonio.

By ToriHino

Paladin (927)

29-09-2023, 19:17

Ascended (9373)

01-10-2023, 09:34

A must for any V9990 owner. Pixel-perfect arcade port!

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Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Sega Master System)

• View history

The Sega Master System port of Ghouls 'n Ghosts features an exclusive power-up system that allows players to enter secret areas and upgrade parts of Arthur 's armor.

Weapons [ ]

• Psycho Cannon

Arthur's armors are divided in three parts, each with four versions: Silver, Red, Green and Gold. Helmets allow Arthur to use magic, each increasing his magic gauge. Body armors increase Arthur's life energy. Shoes increase Arthur's speed and improves his jump.

• Silver Helmet / Armor / Shoes (initial)
• Red Helmet / Armor / Shoes
• Green Helmet / Armor / Shoes
• Gold Helmet / Armor / Shoes
• Thunder Magic
• Shield Magic
• Double Magic

• 1 Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
• 2 Demon's Crest
• 3 Ghosts 'n Goblins

Ghosts 'n Goblins Arcade

Action Platforming

September 1985

Achievements

Complete Stage 1. [All achievements require 1 player and default difficulty]

77.72% unlock rate

293 (146) of 377 – 77.72% unlock rate

Complete Stage 2.

33.42% unlock rate

126 (63) of 377 – 33.42% unlock rate

Complete Stage 3.

23.61% unlock rate

89 (41) of 377 – 23.61% unlock rate

Complete Stage 4.

21.22% unlock rate

80 (36) of 377 – 21.22% unlock rate

Complete Stage 5.

16.18% unlock rate

61 (23) of 377 – 16.18% unlock rate

Complete Stage 6 (with the Shield).

10.88% unlock rate

41 (16) of 377 – 10.88% unlock rate

Complete Stage 7.

10.61% unlock rate

40 (16) of 377 – 10.61% unlock rate

Complete Stage 1 while wearing armor.

46.95% unlock rate

177 (91) of 377 – 46.95% unlock rate

Complete Stage 2 while wearing armor.

23.87% unlock rate

90 (45) of 377 – 23.87% unlock rate

Complete Stage 3 while wearing armor.

15.65% unlock rate

59 (23) of 377 – 15.65% unlock rate

Complete Stage 4 while wearing armor.

61 (28) of 377 – 16.18% unlock rate

Complete Stage 5 while wearing armor.

12.20% unlock rate

46 (17) of 377 – 12.20% unlock rate

Complete Stage 6 (with the Shield) while wearing armor.

9.55% unlock rate

36 (16) of 377 – 9.55% unlock rate

Complete Stage 7 while wearing armor.

10.08% unlock rate

38 (15) of 377 – 10.08% unlock rate

Get 40 kills with the Lance in a single life.

61.01% unlock rate

230 (115) of 377 – 61.01% unlock rate

Get 40 kills with the Torch in a single life.

20.69% unlock rate

78 (41) of 377 – 20.69% unlock rate

Get 40 kills with the Axe in a single life.

40 (24) of 377 – 10.61% unlock rate

Get 40 kills with the Dagger in a single life.

29.71% unlock rate

112 (57) of 377 – 29.71% unlock rate

Get 40 kills with the Shield in a single life.

13.00% unlock rate

49 (24) of 377 – 13.00% unlock rate

Collect all weapons in a single game.

38 (22) of 377 – 10.08% unlock rate

Collect the hidden Yashichi on stage 1.

41.64% unlock rate

157 (87) of 377 – 41.64% unlock rate

Collect the hidden Yashichi on stage 3.

16.45% unlock rate

62 (36) of 377 – 16.45% unlock rate

Collect the hidden armor on Stage 1.

48.28% unlock rate

182 (102) of 377 – 48.28% unlock rate

Collect the hidden armor on Stage 2.

38 (25) of 377 – 10.08% unlock rate

Collect the first hidden armor on Stage 3.

62 (42) of 377 – 16.45% unlock rate

Collect the second hidden armor on Stage 3.

14.06% unlock rate

53 (34) of 377 – 14.06% unlock rate

Collect the hidden armor on Stage 6.

11.41% unlock rate

43 (20) of 377 – 11.41% unlock rate

Collect all 5 hidden armors in a single game.

5.84% unlock rate

22 (13) of 377 – 5.84% unlock rate

Collect the princess' underwear.

14.32% unlock rate

54 (30) of 377 – 14.32% unlock rate

Get transformed into a frog and don't get hit for the entire duration of the spell.

26.79% unlock rate

101 (57) of 377 – 26.79% unlock rate

Complete any stage with the Torch, before Stage 6.

27.85% unlock rate

105 (53) of 377 – 27.85% unlock rate

Complete any stage with the Axe, before Stage 6.

40 (22) of 377 – 10.61% unlock rate

In stage 1, find 6 Magicians in a single life (one at a time to be counted).

40 (27) of 377 – 10.61% unlock rate

In stage 2, kill 21 Petite Devils in a single life on the haunted house (while challenge icon is on screen).

17.24% unlock rate

65 (39) of 377 – 17.24% unlock rate

Reach 20k points.

74.01% unlock rate

279 (137) of 377 – 74.01% unlock rate

Reach 70k points.

78 (35) of 377 – 20.69% unlock rate

Reach 140k points.

53 (23) of 377 – 14.06% unlock rate

Complete the second loop.

9.02% unlock rate

34 (15) of 377 – 9.02% unlock rate

Complete the 1st loop using 3 credits or less. [3 lives per credit (Default)]

(100) (565)

Complete the 2nd loop using 5 credits or less. [3 lives per credit (Default)]

8.22% unlock rate

31 (14) of 377 – 8.22% unlock rate

Complete the 1st loop using the "World 1" version of the game (see forum post for details).

9.81% unlock rate

37 (14) of 377 – 9.81% unlock rate

(100) (604)

Complete the 2nd loop using the "World 1" version of the game (see forum post for details).

8.49% unlock rate

32 (13) of 377 – 8.49% unlock rate

A Journey Through Sega History, One Game at a Time

Ghosts ‘n goblins, ghouls ‘n ghosts.

I’m greatly intimidated by the Japanese cover.

16-bits of raw power, courtesy of God and the elements.

PLAYERS : 1-2 alternating

PUBLISHER : Sega

DEVELOPER : Capcom (port by Sega)

GENRE : Action

RELEASE DATE : 08/03/89 – (JP)

                                            10/89 – (US)

                                            11/90 – (EU)

With all respect to Phantasy Star II , Ghouls ‘N Ghosts was the landmark title for the Genesis in 1989. Besides being the first Capcom game on any Sega system, the Genesis version was the best looking, best playing port of the arcade game and fully justified Sega’s claim that playing the Genesis was akin to the arcade at home. The demonic difficulty certainly ostracized those not willing to virtually flagellate themselves through limitless Game Overs, but even today, Ghouls ‘N Ghosts rich Gothic visuals and unrelenting action still hold up next to later platformers on the console.

Quite the foreboding guillotine.

You control Sir Arthur, a knight tasked with taking on the Prince of Darkness and his evil minions. Arthur’s an interesting bloke. Despite what appears to be strong armor, one hit will rip it off and leave him trembling in his skivvies, while one additional hit turns him to bones. The game occasionally graces you with golden Magic Armor, which allows you to perform magic attacks that differ depending on the weapon you’re holding. The armor is elusive, however, and can only be found in treasure chests. Arthur begins his adventure with a sword (looks more like a lance to me, but hey) to skewer all manner of Grim Reaper, Depraved Vultures and Vomiting Pigs. Other weapons like Fire Water, Axes, and Daggers eventually make their presence known, but the sword remains one of the best weapons in the game, due to its flexibility and speed. That said, boss battles will sometimes be more easily won with different weapons. Experimentation is key.

Practice makes, uh… yeah.

If you’ve never played Ghouls ‘N Ghosts or any other Ghosts ‘N Goblins game, imagine a platformer with the pace of a shoot-em-up. This might sound like a refreshing amalgam, but Capcom doesn’t get the blend right. Enemies are ruthless and surround you with little room to maneuver, while Arthur’s sprite is large and slow. As with shoot-em-ups, enemies constantly emerge and re-emerge out of the dark landscapes, but since Arthur can’t navigate around the entire stage like a ship could, you have to be constantly alert and/or lucky to avoid the majority of the chaos.

The Tower that Leans and Stuff.

To its credit, Ghouls ‘N Ghosts has some incredibly innovative stage portions and outlandish boss designs. Few will forget riding the tongues of the gargoyle statues in the Horrible Faced Mountain (actual name), sliding down the sides of the Crystal Caves, or avoiding the bouncing Rock Turtles in the Village of Decay. The multifaceted Worm is one of the most challenging bosses I’ve ever faced, while the final boss – Satan himself – is a massive beast bigger than the screen itself. If you’re interested in Ghouls ‘N Ghosts but aren’t sure if you can take the oppressive beatdowns, I highly recommend a Youtube runthrough. If nothing else, you’ll be able to appreciate Ghouls ‘N Ghosts visual splendor in peace.

That’s one tasty lick too many for Arthur.

I’ve tried repeatedly to delve into Arthur’s sordid world via the original Ghosts ‘N Goblins , Super Ghosts ‘N Goblins , and now Ghouls ‘N Ghosts , and I just don’t get the same enjoyment that others do. Yes, the game’s aesthetics are top-notch, but the game contains some of the hardest, cheapest platforming found on a 16-bit console. Enemies appear out of nowhere. Arthur, the main protagonist, is a weakling in knight’s armor with unintuitive controls. Trying to venture forward with caution? Forget it. The stages have a strict 2-3 minute time limit. And just like Ghosts ‘N Goblins , you have to beat Ghouls ‘N Ghosts twice, and the second time is harder than the first. If you’re committed to Arthur’s cause, you’ll beat the game eventually, thanks to the unlimited continues. Even with this generous concession, Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is less a game to enjoy than a trial to endure. Sounds like hell to me.

Based on the comic book!

PLAYERS : 1

RELEASE DATE :   01/91 – (US)

                                     04/91 – (EU)

If Ghouls ‘N Ghosts for the Genesis is Cannibal Corpse’s ‘The Bleeding,’ then its Master System counterpart is Metallica’s ‘Black Album.’ They’re both classified as metal, but they’re worlds apart in tone and edge.

Make no mistake, though: Master System Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is a considerable technical achievement; so much so, that in order to get the game to run, Sega had to sacrifice much of the challenge. The areas are sparse, despite being divided up into two stages and a boss fight rather than the long thoroughfare found in the Genesis version. Enemies emerge infrequently. Certain sections, like the bouncing head portion in Level 2, have massive slowdown, despite the relative lack of on-screen activity. There are also secret areas (accessible only by destroying a treasure chest) where you can upgrade different pieces of your armor for additional health (Red Armor as opposed to Gold), even though you won’t really need it. And for the knight that has everything: brand-new magic spells that range from stronger attacks with Arthur’s current weapon to regenerating armor. All of the aforementioned adds up to one smooth ride through the underworld. If you’ve had any experience with platformers, you’ll have the Prince of Darkness pulverized by brunch.

Just as freaky in 8-bit.

And is that such a bad thing? Ghouls ‘N Ghosts for the Master System certainly isn’t the essential experience for diehard fans. But for those who waver on the series’ obnoxious difficulty, this port might be the only way to enjoy the game’s otherwise ghoulish sensibilities.

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メディア機器の設定が変更されました。サウンドが聞こえない場合はPCの設定を確認してください。

すぐにキーボードで遊べます！ ページを離れるとゲームの進行状況がリセットされます。

ゲームパッドを接続すると、使用する入力機器を切り替えて遊ぶことができます。

• 1 PLAYER 全て 割り当てなし
• 2 PLAYER 割り当てなし

GHOSTS'N GOBLINS

Ghosts 'n Goblins was released in arcades in 1985, and the following year, it was also released for the NES. Players take charge of Arthur in his quest to save the princess, who has been kidnapped and taken away to the Demon Realm. The difficulty level of this game was so high that it was a status for players to complete this game at that time. Ghosts 'n Goblins is truly worthy of being called the original "Masocore Game".

ブレス オブ ファイア

BREATH OF FIRE

SUPER GHOULS'N GHOSTS

ストリートファイターII

Street Fighter II

Final Fight

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Russia Says 2 Drones Hit Buildings in Moscow in Latest Wave of Attacks

The strike was the third in the past week in Moscow, a sign of how no city in Russia or Ukraine appears to be safe from the war. Russia blamed Ukraine, which has yet to comment.

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By Andrés R. Martínez and Anton Troianovski

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had fired at least three drones at Moscow, the latest in a wave of attacks in Russia demonstrating that few places are off limits after more than 17 months of war.

One drone was destroyed in Odintsovo, outside Moscow, the Defense Ministry said, adding that two others struck commercial buildings in the capital after being intercepted by Russian air defenses. There were no injuries , Moscow’s mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, said in a post on the Telegram messaging app, but video footage from Russian state media showed blown-out windows and twisted beams in one of Moscow’s premier skyscrapers.

Ukraine does not typically claim responsibility for attacks in Russia, in an effort to maintain a military advantage and an element of surprise. However, senior Ukrainian officials said last week that recent drone attacks on Moscow were orchestrated by Kyiv.

In his evening address on Sunday, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, did not explicitly mention the strikes in Moscow but noted that “gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia,” including military and “symbolic” centers.

“This is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process,” said Mr. Zelensky, who previously promised “retaliation” after two weeks of nonstop Russian bombardment on Odesa , a city on the Black Sea that is both vital to Ukraine’s economy and of great cultural and historical significance.

Ukraine has also been accused of using drones to attack Russian-occupied Crimea — with Moscow claiming on Sunday that a new wave was launched overnight — and oil facilities and military air bases deep inside Russia.

The attacks in Moscow, though they have become more frequent, have so far caused no deaths. They have also been far less extensive than the drone and missile strikes that Russian forces conduct nightly across Ukraine, often hitting civilian areas.

The first drone attacks on Moscow, on the Kremlin compound , came in early May, an assault that American officials said was most likely carried out by one of Kyiv’s special military or intelligence units. They were followed by attacks at the end of that month on a high-end Moscow neighborhood.

In July, there have been at least three drone attacks on Moscow, some coming within blocks of striking military facilities central to the war effort.

The attacks have upended the assumption of people in Moscow, about 500 miles from Ukraine, that the fighting would never touch them. And they have prompted criticism of President Vladimir V. Putin’s management of the war, which has taken an enormous economic toll on Russia and has cost tens of thousands of soldiers their lives .

The skyscraper complex that sustained damage on Sunday, known as Moscow City, is a symbol of Russia’s economic resurgence under Mr. Putin. Its 89th-floor restaurant with panoramic views of Moscow is a draw for the city’s moneyed elite, while its office space houses government ministries as well as finance and tech companies — including cryptocurrency exchanges linked to the illicit dealings of Russian hackers .

A few hours after Sunday morning’s attack, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman released a statement that neither accepted nor denied responsibility.

“They got what they wanted,” the spokesman, Yuri Ihnat, said on national television. “There is always something flying in Russia, including Moscow. Those who are not affected by the war are now affected, which creates certain moods. Russia can no longer claim it shot down everything.”

Late Sunday, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone had crashed far closer to the front lines, in the southwestern Rostov region, near where Russia claimed to have shot down two missiles last week .

The regional governor, Vasily Golubev, wrote on Telegram that the drone had damaged a car and the roof of a house in Daraganovka, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. The town is just outside Taganrog, a port city on the Sea of Azov about 80 miles from the front lines. Russian officials said a downed Ukrainian missile injured at least nine people in Taganrog on Friday.

Hours earlier, Mr. Putin attended an annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg, the northern harbor city where the Russian president has in recent days hosted African leaders for a summit. Mr. Putin toured the naval parade on a speedboat on the Neva River, accompanied by his defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, who had just returned from a rare visit to North Korea .

Several African leaders in town for the summit, including Burkina Faso’s Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a coup last year , also attended the parade.

In a speech, Mr. Putin, as he frequently does, compared the Russian naval forces involved in the invasion of Ukraine with their predecessors who helped defeat the Nazis in World War II.

“In the name of Russia, our seamen are giving all their strength, showing true heroism, fighting with honor, as our great forefathers,” Mr. Putin said.

Ukraine has recently claimed responsibility for a series of bold attacks last year and was accused last week by Moscow of firing missiles into Russia, potentially signaling a more aggressive Ukrainian effort to expand the war.

These attacks come while Ukraine is intensifying its efforts in the south as part of its counteroffensive , using newly trained soldiers and new weapons — provided by the United States and Europe — to push past Russian soldiers who have spent months building a well-fortified defense. The campaign, which has been slow, has also included more consistent drone and missile strikes in Crimea, which is crucial to Russia’s war efforts and which it illegally annexed in 2014, to try to destroy weapons, ammunition and fuel supplies.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a separate statement early Sunday that it had intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones targeting Crimea overnight. The claim could not be independently verified.

At the same time, Ukraine’s Air Force said that Russia had launched four attack drones overnight at the Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions of southern Ukraine. It said in a post on Telegram early Sunday that all of the drones had been intercepted. Those claims also could not be independently verified.

In the north of the country, two people were killed and 20 others were wounded when a Russian missile hit a building on Saturday in Sumy, the City Council said in a statement.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg contributed reporting.

Andrés R. Martínez is a senior editor for The Times in Seoul, responsible for coverage of live news in Asia. He previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News and The Monitor in McAllen, Texas. More about Andrés R. Martínez

Anton Troianovski is the Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times. He was previously Moscow bureau chief of The Washington Post and spent nine years with The Wall Street Journal in Berlin and New York. More about Anton Troianovski

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

The Future of Ukraine : The European Union and NATO  have promised a path to membership for the country . But real partnership will hold risks and benefits .

Photos : Photographers with The New York Times and other news organizations have been chronicling the war , capturing a slice of how soldiers and civilians have experienced it. Our photographers say some images will never leave them .

Defying Isolation:   After the invasion of Ukraine, the West tried to cut Russia off  from the rest of the world. But wealthy Russians continue to rely on a network of middlemen to circumvent the restrictions .

A Wartime Partnership: The alliance between President Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has become critical to the world order .

Zelensky’s Rise: The Ukrainian president, once brushed off as a political lightweight, has become a household name , representing his country’s tenacity.

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow wounds one, shuts airport

Russian officials and media say ‘attempted terrorist attack’ on the capital city wounded one person, damaged two buildings and briefly suspended traffic at the Vnukovo airport.

Russian forces have intercepted three Ukrainian drones over Moscow, in an attack that wounded one person, damaged two office blocks and briefly forced the closure of an airport in the city.

The Russian defence ministry blamed the assault early on Sunday on Kyiv, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – without commenting on the drone attacks – warned that “war was coming to the territory of Russia”.

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In a message on Telegram, the defence ministry said: “The Kyiv regime’s attempted terrorist attack with unmanned aerial vehicles on objects in the city of Moscow was thwarted”.

It said one of the drones was shot down, while two, “suppressed by electronic warfare”, crashed into a building complex in Moscow’s business district.

Photos from the site of the crash showed the facade of a skyscraper damaged on one floor. The capital’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the attack “insignificantly damaged” the outsides of two buildings in the Moscow City district.

A security guard was wounded, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported, citing emergency officials.

No flights went into or out of the Vnukovo airport on the southern outskirts of the city for about an hour, according to TASS, and the air space over Moscow and the outlying regions was temporarily closed for any aircraft.

Those restrictions have since been lifted.

Authorities also briefly closed a street for traffic near the site of the crash in the Moscow City area.

President Vladimir Putin, who was in his hometown of Saint Petersburg at the time of the attempted attacks for meetings with African leaders and a naval celebration, was briefed, his spokesman said.

Separately, the Russian defence ministry said it had also successfully thwarted an overnight attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, by 25 Ukrainian drones that Moscow said it had either shot down or forced to crash. Nobody had been hurt and no damage was caused in the Crimea, it added.

Ukrainian officials did not acknowledge the attacks but Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address: “Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia – to its symbolic centres and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process.”

“Ukraine is getting stronger,” he added.

A Ukrainian air force spokesman also did not claim responsibility but said the Russian people were seeing the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“All of the people who think the war ‘doesn’t concern them’ – it’s already touching them,” spokesperson Yurii Ihnat told journalists.

“There’s already a certain mood in Russia: that something is flying in, and loudly,” he said. “There’s no discussion of peace or calm in the Russian interior any more. They got what they wanted.”

The attack was the fourth such attempt at a strike on Moscow this month and the third this week, heightening concerns about the capital’s vulnerability to attacks as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags into its 18th month.

It also comes several weeks into a Ukrainian counteroffensive to take back territory of the country captured by Russia since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia’s foreign ministry has said such attacks “would not be possible without the help provided to the Kyiv regime by the United States and its NATO allies”.

On the other side of the border, Ukrainian authorities said at least two civilians were killed and five others wounded in a Russian missile attack on the northeastern city of Sumy.

“On the evening of July 29, an enemy missile hit an educational institution. Law enforcement officers are working at the scene, recording the effects,” the national police forces said on Telegram.

According to public broadcaster Suspilne, the building was destroyed in an explosion at about 8:00pm local time (17:00 GMT).

Russia talks of retaliation after 'Ukrainian drone strike' near Moscow army HQ

• Russia says 2 Ukrainian drones strike Moscow
• Nobody reported hurt; damage not serious
• One strikes close to Defence Ministry HQ
• Ukraine says there will be more such attacks

MOSCOW, July 24 (Reuters) - Russia spoke of taking harsh retaliatory measures against Ukraine after two drones damaged buildings in Moscow early on Monday, including one close to the Defence Ministry's headquarters, in what it called a brazen act of terror.

Nobody was hurt in the attack, of which a senior Ukrainian official said there would be more, but one drone struck close to the Moscow building where the Russian military holds briefings on what it calls its "special military operation", a symbolic blow which underscored the reach of such drones.

Roads nearby were temporarily closed, windows on the top two floors of an office building struck by a second drone in another Moscow district were blown out, and debris was scattered on the ground, a Reuters reporter who saw the aftermath of the incident said.

"I was asleep and was woken up by a blast, everything started shaking," Polina, a young woman who lives near the high-rise building, told Reuters.

A third "helicopter-type drone" which was not carrying explosives fell on a cemetery in a town outside Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement in which it vowed that all those responsible would be found and punished.

The Kremlin said it would press on with its campaign in Ukraine and meet all the aims of an operation which Kyiv and much of the West say is a brutal war of conquest.

The Moscow drone attack, though not serious in terms of its human cost or damage, was the most high-profile of its kind since two drones reached the Kremlin in May.

A swarm of 17 drones also launched attacks overnight on Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, the Russian Defence Ministry said, adding it had used anti-drone equipment and air defences to bring them down. The Russian-installed head of Crimea said an ammunition warehouse had been struck and a residential building damaged.

"We regard what happened as yet another use of terrorist methods and intimidation of the civilian population by the military and political leadership of Ukraine," the foreign ministry said of the Moscow and Crimea drone attacks.

"The Russian Federation reserves the right to take harsh retaliatory measures."

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said Moscow needed to broaden the range of targets it struck in Ukraine, adding what he called high-impact unexpected and unconventional ones.

[1/5] A member of the security services investigates the damaged building following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, July 24. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing Rights

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whose government rarely comments on attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory, had on Sunday promised what he called "a retaliation to Russian terrorists for Odesa".

That was a reference to days of deadly Russian missile strikes against targets in the port city which Moscow says are payback for a Ukrainian attack last week on the Crimean Bridge which killed the parents of a 14-year-old girl.

Kyiv said on Monday that a Russian drone attack had destroyed Ukrainian grain warehouses on the Danube River and wounded seven people.

'ACT OF TERRORISM'

"Today at night drones attacked the capital of 'the orcs' and Crimea," said Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, using a derogatory term some Ukrainians use for Russians. "Electronic warfare and air defence are already less able to defend the skies of the occupiers."

Writing on the Telegram messaging app, Fedorov, one of the officials spearheading Ukrainian efforts to create an "army of drones", added: "No matter what happens there will be more of this."

Russia's defence ministry said its forces had used radio-electronic equipment to take out the two Ukrainian drones, forcing them to crash, thereby foiling what it called an attempted "terrorist attack".

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the RTVI TV channel Ukraine was guilty of what she called "an act of international terrorism".

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram messaging app that two non-residential buildings were struck at around 4 a.m. (0100 GMT), adding there was no serious damage or casualties.

Citing emergency services, Russian state news agencies reported that drone fragments had been found near a building on Komsomolsky Avenue, which runs through Moscow. The site is close to various defence ministry buildings, including some reported to be affiliated to Russia's GRU military intelligence service.

Traffic was temporarily closed on the street as well as on Likhachev Avenue, where a high-rise office building had been damaged, Russian news agencies reported.

Attention is now likely to turn to where the drones were launched from and whether pro-Ukrainian saboteurs inside Russia had a role. After May's drone attack on the Kremlin, U.S. drone experts concluded they might have been launched from inside Russia.

Reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow ; Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, David Holmes, Bernadette Baum and Nick Macfie

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Thomson Reuters

As Russia Chief Political Correspondent, and former Moscow bureau chief, Andrew helps lead coverage of the world's largest country, whose political, economic and social transformation under President Vladimir Putin he has reported on for much of the last two decades, along with its growing confrontation with the West and wars in Georgia and Ukraine. Andrew was part of a Wall Street Journal reporting team short-listed for a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. He has also reported from Moscow for two British newspapers, The Telegraph and The Independent.

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