Ukraine has launched more than 1,000 drones towards Russian territory in one of the largest aerial attacks since the war began, with hundreds reportedly targeting the Moscow region.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the assault as the largest drone attack on the Russian capital to date, saying Russian air defences intercepted hundreds of drones heading towards the city.
According to Russian authorities, about 450 drones were destroyed while approaching Moscow. The Moscow Oil Refinery was damaged, while a residential building was also reportedly hit.
The wider Moscow region also recorded casualties. Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said two people were killed and 20 others injured in the attacks.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces intercepted a total of 1,110 Ukrainian drones across Russia, Crimea and areas of the Black Sea overnight.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had carried out strikes in the Moscow region. He said the operation targeted oil and logistics infrastructure that supports Russia’s war effort.
Zelenskyy described the attacks as part of Ukraine’s effort to put pressure on Russia’s military and economic capabilities. Ukrainian authorities have increasingly used long-range drones and other weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
The latest attack occurred as Russia concluded its parliamentary elections, adding to the political significance of the incident. Russian officials accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the voting process, while Ukrainian authorities have rejected Russia’s actions in occupied Ukrainian territories as illegitimate.
The drone strikes were not limited to Moscow. Russian authorities reported interceptions across several regions, demonstrating the scale of the overnight assault.
The attacks also came amid continued Russian strikes against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported casualties from Russian attacks, including an incident in the Kyiv region in which a child died after being injured.
The escalation reflects the continuing use of long-range aerial attacks by both sides more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has developed an increasingly sophisticated drone capability, while Russia has expanded its air-defence systems and continued attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts and international calls for an end to the conflict, fighting and long-range strikes have continued.
The latest attack is expected to further intensify concerns about the expanding reach of the war, particularly as Ukraine demonstrates an ability to strike targets far from the front lines.
Russian and Ukrainian accounts of individual incidents and their military impact can differ, and some battlefield claims cannot be independently verified.
The conflict remains ongoing, with both sides continuing to report attacks and casualties.
Source: Thepressradio.com
