KYIV: Ukraine carried out one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia overnight, killing at least four people and injuring 12 others, including several near Moscow, according to Russian authorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strikes and described them as “entirely justified,” saying they were a response to Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities during the ongoing war.
Russian officials said a woman was killed after a drone struck her house in Khimki, a city northwest of Moscow. Two more people died in the village of Pogorelki, located around 10 kilometers from the Russian capital. Another man was killed in Russia’s Belgorod region after a drone hit a truck.
Local authorities reported that several buildings and important infrastructure sites were damaged during the attack. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said most of the 12 injured people were hurt near the entrance of the city’s oil refinery, although refinery operations were not affected.
Russia’s Sheremetyevo Airport, the country’s largest airport, also confirmed that drone debris fell on its premises, but flights continued normally without major disruption.
According to Russian state media, air defense systems intercepted 81 drones heading toward Moscow overnight. Russia’s Defense Ministry later claimed that 556 drones were destroyed across the country during the night and said more than 1,000 drones had been shot down or jammed within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Russian drone attacks on Ukraine overnight injured at least eight people, Ukrainian officials said.
President Zelenskyy stated that the drones traveled more than 500 kilometers from Ukrainian territory and managed to bypass Russian air defense systems around Moscow.
“Our responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and attacks on our cities and communities are entirely justified,” Zelenskyy said while defending the operation.
