At least four people were killed and over a dozen wounded in one of Ukraine’s largest drone strikes on Russian territory since the conflict began, local authorities reported Sunday. The strikes targeted areas near Moscow, including the suburb of Khimki and the village of Pogorelki, as well as the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border.
Ukrainian drones hit residential homes, infrastructure, and an oil refinery, causing casualties and damage but sparing Russia’s largest airport, Sheremetyevo, where debris landed without disrupting operations. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that the refinery’s critical technology remained intact despite injuries to at least 12 people near the site.
An Indian citizen was among those killed, while three other Indian nationals were injured, according to the Indian embassy in Russia. Local officials stated that a woman died in Khimki after her home was struck, two men were killed in Pogorelki, and a man died when a drone hit a truck in the Belgorod region.
Russia’s defense systems claimed to have intercepted hundreds of drones. Sobyanin said 81 drones heading toward Moscow were shot down overnight, and the Russian Defense Ministry reported more than 1,000 drones destroyed or jammed within 24 hours.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the attacks and emphasized that the strikes, which involved drones flying over 310 miles from Ukrainian territory, were justified responses to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. “Our responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and attacks on our cities and communities are entirely justified,” Zelenskyy said, highlighting the strikes as a message that Russia’s war must end.
Why it matters
The scale and reach of the Ukrainian drone strikes demonstrate Kyiv’s growing capability to strike deep into Russian territory, challenging Moscow’s security and signaling a shift in the conflict’s dynamics. Experts suggest the attacks are retaliatory, following recent Russian assaults on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
The strikes also convey a strategic warning to the Russian population and authorities that even areas near the capital are vulnerable, contributing to a climate of anxiety amid Russia’s battlefield setbacks and intensifying domestic controls.
Background
This attack follows numerous Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, which have caused casualties and infrastructure damage. Ukraine has increased drone use for strikes targeting critical Russian infrastructure, including oil facilities, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s economic resources funding the war.
Both sides have reported high volumes of drone activity. Overnight, Russia launched 287 drones against Ukraine, with most intercepted by Ukrainian defenses. The ongoing drone warfare reflects the evolving nature of the conflict and the rising role of unmanned technology in military operations.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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