In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack targeting Russia, resulting in the destruction of critical infrastructure and loss of life. The assault, which included over 1,000 drones, damaged the Moscow Oil Refinery and a residential building, highlighting the increasing use of long-range weapons in the war.
The attack, described by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin as the largest drone offensive on the Russian capital to date, resulted in two fatalities and injuries to 20 others in the Moscow region. The strikes aimed to disrupt oil and logistics facilities that bolster Russia’s wartime economy, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The timing of the attack coincided with the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections, casting a shadow over the political process. Sobyanin accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the elections, which were also conducted in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. Kyiv has denounced the voting in these areas as illegitimate.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the interception and destruction of 1,110 Ukrainian drones across Russia, Crimea, and the Black Sea region. This incident underscores the ongoing escalation in drone warfare, with both nations increasingly targeting infrastructure and military sites far from the traditional front lines.