Ukraine launches around 650 drones at Moscow region in largest attack in two years; Russia strikes Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia
Ukraine attacked the Moscow region overnight from Monday into Tuesday with approximately 650 drones, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, in what TASS called the largest such attack in two years. Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted nearly 900 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple Russian regions, Crimea, and the Sea of Azov. On the same day, Russian glide bombs killed at least six people in Kharkiv and a bridge in Zaporizhzhia was struck, injuring five.
Key points
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said around 650 drones were launched at the Moscow region overnight Monday–Tuesday, with 105 destroyed approaching Moscow and another 68 downed in daylight Tuesday.
- Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted nearly 900 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple Russian regions, Crimea, and the Sea of Azov.
- Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported two people killed, nine injured, and 47 residential buildings damaged; Sheremetyevo Airport temporarily suspended operations.
- An oil storage facility near the town of Kostyantynivka, roughly 40 km southeast of Moscow, was reportedly targeted; no official confirmation of a hit was given.
- Russian glide bombs killed at least six people in Kharkiv; Ukrainian investigative authorities reported 59 injured, figures not independently confirmed.
- A bridge over the Dnipro in Zaporizhzhia was struck, injuring five, according to regional head Mykhailo Semikin; traffic was temporarily suspended.
- Russia's Defense Ministry said it struck targets in Odesa region overnight, including an ammunition depot, a bulk carrier in Chornomorsk, and port infrastructure in Izmail.
Why it matters
The overnight attack is among the largest Ukrainian drone strikes on the Moscow region to date and reportedly targeted a fuel-supply hub, linking the campaign to potential effects on Russian energy supply. Russia's Defense Ministry claim of intercepting nearly 900 drones overnight points to an intensifying air war on multiple fronts. The exchange unfolded alongside continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including glide-bomb attacks on Kharkiv and bridge strikes in Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has claimed to have disabled 51% of Russia's refining capacity, a figure not independently verified; Russia has banned diesel exports and President Putin has said the strikes cost roughly 1% of Russian GDP, while U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Ukraine to stop hitting Russian refineries.
What happened
Overnight from Monday into Tuesday, Ukraine launched approximately 650 drones at the Moscow region, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Sobyanin said 105 were destroyed on approach to Moscow and most of the rest were intercepted at long range, while another 68 targeting Moscow were downed during daylight on Tuesday. Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported two people killed, nine injured, and 47 residential buildings damaged; Sheremetyevo Airport, Russia's largest, temporarily suspended operations, and Russian airlines adjusted flight schedules. A fire broke out in a warehouse in Litvinovo, staff were evacuated, and unconfirmed media reports said a fuel depot around 40 km southeast of Moscow, in Kostyantynivka, was on fire; no official confirmation of a hit on the oil storage facility was given. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted nearly 900 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, Crimea, and the Sea of Azov. On the same day, Russian glide bombs hit the eastern city of Kharkiv, killing at least six people according to authorities, with Ukrainian investigators reporting 59 injured; rescue work continued for possible additional victims. In Zaporizhzhia, regional head Mykhailo Semikin said a bridge over the Dnipro was struck, injuring five, and traffic was temporarily suspended; a nighttime attack on a residential building wounded another five and a daylight strike on a warehouse caused a large fire. Russia's Defense Ministry said it struck targets in Odesa region overnight, including an ammunition depot, a bulk carrier in Chornomorsk carrying dual-use goods, and port infrastructure in Izmail.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ on the scale of the overnight exchange: Moscow Mayor Sobyanin said around 650 drones were launched at the Moscow region, while Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted nearly 900 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple Russian regions, Crimea, and the Sea of Azov. Reports also differ on the Kharkiv strike — authorities said at least six people were killed by Russian glide bombs, while Ukrainian investigative authorities reported 59 people injured, and none of the casualty figures were independently confirmed. Finally, Russian sources describe the Kostyantynivka facility as the largest reservoir in the region and a key Moscow fuel-supply hub, but no official confirmation was given that the oil storage facility was actually hit.
Background
Russia has systematically struck Ukraine's rear areas with drones and missiles, producing near-daily Ukrainian civilian casualties. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than four and a half years. In the previous week, Russian forces attacked bridges in Kyiv with drones for the first time. Russia's Defense Ministry separately said its forces struck targets in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight, including an ammunition depot, a bulk carrier in Chornomorsk port carrying dual-use goods, and port infrastructure in Izmail.