Nearly 200 drones struck targets around Moscow in what officials described as the largest Ukrainian attack on the capital since the full-scale invasion began, producing heavy smoke and fires. Seventeen people were reported wounded in the Moscow region, and one person was killed in Rostov after an oil depot was hit. Russia said nearly 1,000 drones and four cruise missiles were intercepted nationwide; Kyiv called the operation "long-range sanctions" in response to a recent strike on Kyiv. Airports in Moscow were briefly closed and more than 500 flights were disrupted.
Nearly 200 Drones Strike Moscow in Largest Ukrainian Assault Since 2022
Moscow experienced what Russian officials described as the largest Ukrainian drone attack since the start of the full-scale invasion, with nearly 200 drones reported to have struck targets around the capital. Thick columns of black smoke rose above parts of the city after fires were reported at an oil refinery and other sites.
Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, said 17 people were wounded. Russian authorities also reported that an oil depot in the southern Rostov region was hit, killing one person.
Russia's defence ministry said nearly 1,000 drones and four Ukrainian cruise missiles were intercepted across the country overnight; these figures come from official Russian statements and have not been independently verified. Kyiv said the strikes on Moscow were "long-range sanctions" and framed them as retaliation for a recent Russian attack on Kyiv that damaged a major religious site.
Damage, Disruption and Eyewitness Video
Fires broke out after the Kapotnya refinery in south-east Moscow was hit. Social media footage and local reports showed the lid of a large oil storage tank blown high into the air and smoke darkening the sky. A nearby shopping centre was reported ablaze, apparently after drone debris fell on the building, and several residential high-rise blocks were evacuated.
All four of Moscow's airports were temporarily closed and more than 500 flights were cancelled or delayed. Although Russian authorities have restricted publication of official images from strike sites, dozens of clips circulated on social media showing drones and explosions over industrial zones on the outskirts of the city.
"It's time to end this war, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding: "We don't want this war and have never wanted it. But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too."
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha addressed Muscovites directly: "One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is 'What is going on?' I can answer. 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."
Wider Context and Military Exchanges
Drone attacks on Moscow, roughly 500 km (310 miles) from the Ukrainian border, have become more frequent since Kyiv developed longer-range capabilities in 2023. Ukraine first struck the Russian capital with drones in spring 2023; since then, Moscow has deployed extensive air-defence systems around the city, while Kyiv has increased the scale and frequency of its strikes.
Separately, Kyiv said Russia launched more than 200 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight. At the time of reporting, President Vladimir Putin, who was hosting southeast Asian leaders at a summit in Kazan, had not publicly commented on the attack on Moscow.
Note on sourcing: Casualty and intercept figures are drawn from official statements by Russian and Ukrainian authorities and local officials. Independent verification of some claims was not available at the time of reporting.
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