Ukraine has launched its largest drone attack on Moscow in over a year, with nearly 600 drones striking across 14 Russian regions overnight, according to Russian authorities. At least four people were killed, and 12 others were wounded in the capital.
Details of the Attack
The Russian defence ministry reported that 556 drones were shot down by air defences, but debris caused casualties and damage. Three people died in the Moscow region, including a woman in Khimki whose house was hit, and two men in Pogorelki where drone debris fell on a construction site. One person remains trapped under rubble. In the Belgorod region, one person was killed.
Impact on Moscow
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that 12 people were wounded, mostly near the city's oil refinery. Russian state agency Tass reported that 81 drones were intercepted heading for the capital, making it the largest attack on Moscow in over a year. Sheremetyevo Airport, Russia's largest, reported drone debris on its premises but no damage.
Retaliation and Context
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned of more drone strikes in retaliation for a three-day Russian attack across Ukraine that killed 24 people in Kyiv, including three children. He stated that Ukraine is justified in striking Russian oil facilities and military production to hamper Moscow's war effort. The attacks come after a brief truce marking the end of World War II, which both sides accused the other of violating.
Ongoing Conflict
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled, with Kyiv rejecting Moscow's territorial demands in Donbas. The US attention has shifted to the US-Israeli war against Iran.
