Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukraine has carried out the most intense drone strikes against Russia to date. The Russian military reported that a total of 556 drones were downed overnight across 14 sites nationwide. Officials confirmed at least three fatalities in the Moscow region. Andrei Vorobyov, the regional governor, stated that a woman was killed in Khimki, located north of the capital. Drone strikes also caused the deaths of a man and a woman in the village of Pogorelki. According to Governor Vorobyov, the attacks injured three men and one woman, and caused damage to numerous homes.
The key targets identified by Ukraine included the major oil refining center in the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that 12 people were injured in the attack on the oil facility. Ukrainian officials stated that eight people were injured in Ukraine during Russian drone attacks. Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned of a strong response to Russia. Zelensky emphasized that Russia had launched 1,500 drone attacks causing 24 casualties, prompting a firm Ukrainian reaction.
“Since 3 a.m., air defense units have been neutralizing a large number of drones,” Governor Vorobyov wrote on Telegram Sunday morning. He also reported a fire at a private home in the southwestern Moscow village of Subotino. Ukraine has not released an official statement regarding the recent drone strikes in Moscow. On Saturday, Zelensky announced the destruction of high-value Russian military equipment, including a plane, a helicopter, and a cargo ship. “Our long-range strikes have targeted Russian oil centers and ships,” Zelensky said about the drone attacks, adding, “Most of our operations are still ongoing.”
