The Russian Defense Ministry announced Sunday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 158 Ukrainian drones overnight, marking one of the largest drone attacks in the ongoing conflict. The strikes targeted multiple regions across Russia, including the capital Moscow.
According to the ministry, two drones were shot down over Moscow and nine over the surrounding region. The Kursk region, where Ukraine has recently launched its largest incursion on Russian soil since World War II, saw the highest number of intercepted drones at 46. Other border regions also reported significant numbers: 34 in Bryansk, 28 in Voronezh, and 14 in Belgorod.
The attacks extended deep into Russian territory, with drones reportedly shot down in the Tver region northwest of Moscow and the Ivanovo region to the northeast. In total, the Defense Ministry reported drone interceptions over 15 regions.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that falling debris from one of the drones shot down over the city caused a fire at an oil refinery. This incident underscores the increasing reach of Ukrainian drone strikes, which have brought the conflict closer to Russia’s heartland.
These aerial assaults are part of Ukraine’s strategy to target Russian refineries and oil terminals, aiming to disrupt the Kremlin’s military operations. The attacks have intensified since the beginning of the year, signaling a shift in Ukraine’s tactical approach.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have taken control of the towns of Pivnichne and Vyimka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, though this claim could not be independently verified by the Associated Press. Russian forces continue to advance in the partially occupied eastern region, with the capture of Donetsk remaining a key objective for the Kremlin.
In Ukraine, officials reported that eight out of 11 Russian-launched drones were shot down overnight. The conflict continues to take a toll on civilian areas, with one person killed and four wounded in shelling in the Sumy region, and multiple injuries reported in Kharkiv due to Russian attacks on Sunday.
