A barrage of Ukrainian drones struck Moscow and its surrounding region on Sunday, killing at least two people and damaging a major refinery. The attacks occurred on the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections. Moscow's Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, reported that over 1,600 drones had been intercepted and shot down, with 450 of them targeted at Moscow. The capital's authorities were quick to respond, with emergency services on the scene.
The drone attacks caused significant damage, including a fire at a 21-storey building that led to the evacuation of 400 people. Moscow regional Governor, Andrey Vorobyov, confirmed that two people were killed in separate locations - a 44-year-old woman and an elderly man. The Governor did not specify the origin of the drones. The attacks were praised by Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who stated that the strikes had a significant impact on the Moscow region.
President Zelensky noted that one of Russia's key oil industry facilities and a logistics facility were hit, resulting in significant financial losses for the Kremlin. The attacks come as Kyiv has stepped up its long-range drone strike campaign against Russia in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure to disrupt the Kremlin's revenue. This campaign is now in its fifth year.
Mayor Sobyanin accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the parliamentary elections, stating that the unprecedented attack was planned to disrupt the voting process. He claimed that the enemy did not succeed, but the attacks did cause significant damage. A facility on the territory of the Moscow Oil Refinery was damaged, with no casualties reported.
The latest strike comes after US President Joe Biden said that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities. However, it appears that Ukraine has continued its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. The parliamentary elections in Russia began on Friday, with voters casting their ballots over three days.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in significant human losses, with hundreds of thousands killed since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022. The situation remains tense, with both sides engaging in a war of attrition. Poland and Ukraine have slammed Russian strikes near the border as an escalation.
In response to the attacks, the Russian authorities have summoned a UK diplomat over the escalation in Ukraine arms supplies. The US Congress has also passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill, which aims to further restrict Russia's economic activities. The international community remains concerned about the situation, with many calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Key points
- At least two people were killed in the Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow.
- Over 1,600 drones were intercepted and shot down, with 450 targeted at Moscow.
- The attacks caused significant damage to a major refinery and other facilities.
