Russia has claimed that Ukraine launched an unprecedented overnight drone assault involving 660 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across multiple regions, describing it as the largest drone attack since the outbreak of the full-scale war between the two countries in 2022.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said the country’s air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed all of the drones involved in the attack. According to the ministry, the targets included the capital Moscow, the Russia-controlled Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and more than a dozen other regions.
Information published on the state communication platform Max said air defense systems were activated simultaneously across several parts of the country, and all incoming drones were neutralized before reaching their intended targets.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least 47 drones heading toward the Russian capital were intercepted. In a post on Telegram, he said emergency response teams had been deployed to areas where drone debris had fallen. No major damage or fatalities were reported in Moscow.
Elsewhere, a residential building in Russia’s Tula region, about 180 kilometers south of Moscow, was damaged during the attacks. Regional Governor Dmitry Milyayev said a woman was injured in the Shchekino district as a result of the drone strike.
In recent months, Ukraine has significantly increased its use of long-range drones to strike targets inside Russian territory. Oil refineries, energy infrastructure, and military logistics facilities have been frequent targets in an apparent effort to undermine Russia’s economic and military capabilities.
The Russia–Ukraine war is now in its fifth year. Just last week, a Ukrainian drone attack reportedly sparked a fire at an oil refinery southeast of Moscow, renewing concerns over the vulnerability of Russia’s critical energy infrastructure.
Source: AFP.