KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – A significant escalation of hostilities was observed overnight as Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks against Russia since the war commenced on February 24, 2022. According to local Russian authorities, at least four individuals lost their lives in the strikes, which targeted several regions, including the area near Moscow.
In Khimki, a city located just northwest of Moscow, a woman tragically died when a drone struck her residence. Additionally, two men were reported deceased in the village of Pogorelki, situated approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Russian capital. Local Governor Andrei Vorobyev reported these fatalities via social media and noted that Ukrainian drones caused damage to various "infrastructure" and several high-rise buildings. Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, reported that at least 12 people suffered injuries during the night attacks, particularly around the entrance to the city's oil refinery. Fortunately, Sobyanin assured that the refinery's technological operations remained unharmed.
In what has been characterized as one of the largest aerial offensive actions on the Russian capital, Russian air defenses claimed to have intercepted and shot down a staggering 81 drones headed towards Moscow overnight, as reported by the state agency Tass, citing Mayor Sobyanin. This event marks a notable intensification of the aerial campaign against Russia amidst ongoing tensions.
Beyond Moscow, another casualty was reported in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, where a drone strike hit a lorry, resulting in one death, according to local officials. Russia's defense ministry later announced that its air defenses had successfully destroyed a total of 556 drones over various regions during the overnight operations. By midday local time, the ministry claimed that more than 1,000 drones had been either shot down or jammed within the previous 24-hour period.
Significantly, Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport confirmed that drone debris had fallen onto its premises but did not cause any damage. This event underscores the extent of the drone warfare being employed by both sides in the ongoing conflict, reflecting adaptive strategies in military tactics.
In retaliation, Russia launched a substantial counter-offensive against Ukraine, deploying a total of 287 drones in its attacks overnight, of which the Ukrainian air force reported that 279 were intercepted or jammed, showcasing the ongoing tit-for-tat nature of drone warfare in the region.
Casualties occurred in Ukraine as well, with reports indicating that eight individuals were injured in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region due to the strikes. The injuries were distributed across several areas: three in the regional capital of Dnipro, four in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, and one in the district of Synelkove. Furthermore, residential buildings sustained damage in all three locations, highlighting the civilian impact of the ongoing conflict.
