Moscow has experienced its most extensive Ukrainian drone strike since the escalation of the conflict, with nearly 200 drones targeting various locations around the Russian capital, resulting in towering columns of smoke.
Local governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that seventeen individuals were injured in the surrounding Moscow region.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, nearly 1,000 drones and four Ukrainian cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed across the country within a single day.
An oil depot in the southern Rostov region was also hit, leading to one fatality.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the assault as “long-range sanctions,” a term used to describe Ukraine’s distant strikes on Russian territory.
He emphasized the urgency for Russia to engage in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. “It’s time to conclude this war,” he stated.
Zelensky indicated that the drone offensive was a direct response to a recent Russian attack on Kyiv that damaged a significant religious site.
”We have never desired this war,” he asserted. “But if Ukraine suffers, so too will your Moscow.”
Fires erupted at the Kapotnya refinery in southeast Moscow, which was targeted for the third time in a month and for the second time within the week, causing thick black smoke to fill the air.
Numerous videos captured the lid of a large oil storage tank being propelled dozens of meters into the sky due to an explosion’s force.
A nearby shopping center was also engulfed in flames after debris from a drone struck the building, prompting evacuations of several residential high-rises.
In response to the attacks, all four airports in Moscow were temporarily closed, resulting in over 500 flight cancellations or delays.
Despite local authorities imposing restrictions on publishing images of the aftermath, numerous videos circulated on social media showcasing drones flying overhead during daylight and explosions occurring in industrial areas on Moscow’s outskirts.
Ukrainian forces have routinely employed tactics involving a large number of reconnaissance decoy drones to assess air defense capabilities and identify vulnerable spots before launching main strikes.
As the war continues nearly four and a half years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict’s toll remains largely unseen by many in Russia.
Kyiv’s long-range strikes on targets in Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, reflect Zelensky’s intent to “bring the war home” to ordinary Russians.
Drone assaults on Moscow, approximately 500 km (310 miles) from Ukraine’s border, have become more frequent as Kyiv enhances its long-range capabilities.
Initial successful drone strikes on the Russian capital occurred in spring 2023, though they were infrequent and typically involved only a few drones.
Extensive air defenses have been established around Moscow, however, the number of drones utilized in Ukrainian attacks has increased significantly, with some successfully breaching those defenses.
No air defense system can guarantee complete protection against large-scale assaults from advanced drones. The success rate of intercepting those that do penetrate is extremely low and carries risks of debris falling to the ground.
Despite the acknowledged challenges in thwarting such extensive attacks, Thursday’s drone strike is likely to prompt scrutiny regarding the effectiveness of air defense systems protecting critical infrastructure in Moscow.
In retaliation, Russia launched over 200 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, according to reports from Kyiv.
President Vladimir Putin, currently hosting Southeast Asian leaders at a summit in Kazan, has yet to address the large-scale assault on the capital.
Speaking on X, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha remarked that many residents of Moscow woke up asking, “What exactly is happening?”
He responded by saying that Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and has spent years causing suffering and loss among Ukrainians.
Sybiha added that now that Russians are seeking answers, they should direct their questions to Vladimir Putin and ask when he intends to bring the conflict to a close.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong