Ukraine launched a major drone operation against Russia overnight, with over 1,000 drones targeting various locations, including Moscow. The Russian capital’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, labeled it the largest drone assault on the city to date, as hundreds of drones reportedly aimed at the metropolitan area.
The attack caused significant damage, hitting the Moscow Oil Refinery and a residential building, according to local reports. In the broader Moscow region, local authorities confirmed the casualties, with two people dead and 20 others injured as a result of the strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the operation utilized both drones and domestically manufactured weaponry, focusing on oil and logistics facilities that play a crucial role in supporting Russia’s wartime economy. This strategic targeting aligns with Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that a total of 1,110 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed across Russia, Crimea, and the Black Sea region. Meanwhile, Mayor Sobyanin accused Ukraine of trying to interfere with Russia’s parliamentary elections, which were concluding that day. These elections were also held in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, a move Kyiv has denounced as illegal.
This escalation in drone attacks underscores the intensifying use of long-range weaponry by both Russia and Ukraine, with each side increasingly targeting infrastructure and military assets far from the front lines.