Moscow Suffers Largest Drone Attack as Ukraine Targets Capital with Nearly 200 Drones
Moscow has endured its most substantial drone attack since the commencement of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Nearly 200 drones targeted areas around the Russian capital, leading to columns of thick smoke billowing into the sky and wounding 17 individuals, as confirmed by local governor Andrei Vorobyov.
Russia's defence ministry stated that almost 1,000 drones and four Ukrainian cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed across the country within 24 hours. Separately, an oil depot in the southern Rostov region was struck, resulting in one fatality.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Kyiv had once again hit the Moscow region with "long-range sanctions," a clear reference to the long-distance strikes. He declared, "It's time to end this war, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy," adding that the drone strike was a response to a recent Russian attack on Kyiv. "If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too," Zelensky warned.
Fires erupted as the Kapotnya refinery in south-east Moscow was hit for the third time in a month. Videos circulated on social media showed the lid of a large oil storage tank propelled dozens of metres into the air by an explosion. A nearby shopping centre also caught fire, reportedly due to drone debris, and several residential high-rise blocks were evacuated. Moscow's four airports faced temporary closures, resulting in over 500 cancelled or delayed flights.
Drone attacks on Moscow, approximately 500km from the Ukrainian border, have increased in frequency as Kyiv develops its long-range capabilities. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha directly linked the attacks to Russia's ongoing aggression, stating, "Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what's going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it."
