Ukrainian Drone Attack on Moscow
(AP) — Ukrainian forces launched over 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, with many targeting Moscow, as the Kremlin wrapped up its parliamentary elections, which lasted for three days. Officials reported this significant strike on Sunday.
Moscow’s mayor referred to this barrage as the “largest ever” to hit the capital, noting that there was damage to an oil refinery and a residential building.
In the broader Moscow region, the attack resulted in two fatalities and left 20 people injured, according to local Governor Andrei Vorobyov, who identified the deceased as a 74-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media, stating that Kyiv had deployed various missiles and drones in the offensive, including domestically produced Flamingo and Pelican missiles, aimed at oil and logistics sites.
Zelenskyy emphasized the economic impact on Russia, saying, “These are billions of dollars that sustain the war machine.” This indicates a strategy to pressure Russia financially.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine was also resisting Russian assaults, mentioning that a drone strike in Ukraine’s Kherson region killed a clergyman and injured four others. A separate assault on the capital resulted in the deaths of a mother and her two children, with one child later succumbing to injuries in the hospital.
The attacks coincided with the final day of Russia’s first wartime parliamentary elections. This election has seen little opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s agenda, and it is widely expected to reinforce the Kremlin’s power.
Additionally, Russia conducted voting in four Ukrainian regions that were illegally annexed during the conflict, along with Crimea, a territory annexed in 2014, prompting condemnation from Kyiv.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, its forces reported shooting down 1,110 Ukrainian drones across the country and over Crimea and the Black Sea.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin mentioned that 450 drones were intercepted before reaching the capital, resulting in damage to the Moscow Oil Refinery and a nearby residential area. He labeled the attack as “unprecedented” and suggested it aimed to disrupt the elections, but added that “the enemy failed in this regard.”
Since the invasion began over four years ago, Ukraine has positioned itself as a leading developer in military drone technology, utilizing homegrown long-range drones and missiles to invade deeper into Russian territory. This technology has gained significant attention from governments and defense industries worldwide.
Kyiv’s goal appears to be making Russians feel the war’s repercussions while applying pressure on Putin to negotiate peace. However, there are no indications that he intends to halt the invasion.
Instead, both sides find themselves increasingly engaged in a tit-for-tat scenario of long-range air strikes, especially as ground combat along the substantial 1,250-kilometer front line in eastern and southern Ukraine has slowed, largely due to the presence of countless drones and automated ground units impacting troop movements.
