Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Hits Moscow

Over 60 drones targeted Moscow, marking a significant aerial attack on the Russian capital. Moscow’s mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, announced the attack on Tuesday, attributing the operation to Ukraine’s intensified long-range weapons campaign. He stated that the air defenses destroyed 61 drones before reaching the city. No casualties were reported, despite emergency services working at various crash sites.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a satellite communications center was hit. He noted the facility was essential for reconnaissance and coordinating Russian forces in Ukraine. This large-scale assault formed part of a broader wave of drone strikes across Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry reported shooting down 419 Ukrainian drones across 18 regions, including Crimea.

Andrey Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, reported a tragic incident in Yegoryevsk, where a 6-month-old died and three people were injured when a drone crash set a private house on fire. In another incident, debris damaged an administrative building in Dubna, located 69 miles north of Moscow.

The aerial attacks briefly disrupted operations at Moscow’s Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, as confirmed by Russia’s federal aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya. Zelenskyy highlighted additional strikes targeting similar locations. His statement hinted at further military actions against enemy facilities.

This assault follows a recent major strike on an oil refinery in the Moscow region. That attack was seen as retaliation for Russian missile strikes on Kyiv’s historic monastery complex earlier in the month.

Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian envoy to what he terms the “crimes of the Kyiv regime,” noted on Telegram that casualties from Ukrainian attacks surpassed 300 in a week, including both killed and injured civilians. Ukraine’s targeting of sites deep within Russia reflects its enhanced long-range capabilities, aiming to exert pressure on Moscow to cease ongoing conflicts.

The campaign has heavily targeted Russia’s oil and energy infrastructure, affecting its war operations and fuel supply chains. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged these fuel shortages during a recent interview, a rare public admission concerning Russia’s ongoing challenges.

In discussions with state media, Putin revealed a proposal from Ukraine to halt long-range strikes mutually. However, Russia refused this offer, opting to maintain its offensive operations.