Moscow: Ukraine launched one of its largest drone offensives against Russia since the beginning of the war, targeting multiple Russian regions in a massive overnight aerial assault that reportedly killed four people and caused widespread destruction across strategic locations. The dead include and Indian, according to IANS.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 556 Ukrainian drones across at least 14 regions, including the Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea areas. The attacks reportedly triggered panic in several regions, with threats reported in Moscow, Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk. Russian authorities also confirmed that drones reached the Moscow region, where three people were killed and several others injured.
Another death was reported from the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border. Local reports indicated that the attacks disrupted electricity supply and communication networks in certain areas, while Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries, military installations and logistics facilities, was believed to have been targeted.
The large-scale assault forced authorities to temporarily suspend flight operations at major Moscow airports as emergency services responded to the attacks and security concerns escalated across the capital region.
The Ukrainian strike came days after Russia intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, where nearly 25 people were reportedly killed in recent bombardments. International media reports said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the latest offensive as retaliation against continued Russian attacks on civilian areas and urban centres.
The renewed escalation highlighted the deepening intensity of the Russia-Ukraine war, with both sides increasingly targeting critical infrastructure and populated regions in long-range aerial attacks.