Ukraine launched its largest overnight drone attack on Moscow in more than a year, killing at least four people including three in the Moscow region, according to Russian local officials. The assault, which involved hundreds of drones targeting the Russian capital and surrounding areas, represents a significant escalation in Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory.
The attack killed three people in the Moscow region and one additional fatality was reported elsewhere, according to NBC News. Russian air defense systems intercepted a large number of the incoming drones, but several struck residential areas and infrastructure across the capital region. Local authorities reported damage to buildings and vehicles in multiple districts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed responsibility for the strikes and described them as entirely justified, according to the Financial Times. The attacks came in direct retaliation for Russia's recent bombardment of Kyiv, which killed dozens of civilians earlier in the week. Zelenskyy framed the operation as a necessary response to continued Russian aggression against Ukrainian cities.
The Washington Post reported that the drone strikes hit Moscow and surrounding areas in the early hours of Sunday morning, marking the deadliest attack on the Russian capital region since the full-scale invasion began. Russian authorities scrambled air defenses across multiple regions as waves of drones approached from different directions.
Sky News confirmed that four people were killed in the overnight strikes, which appear to be the largest targeting Moscow in over a year. The attack demonstrates Ukraine's growing drone production capabilities and its willingness to strike deep into Russian territory in response to attacks on its own civilian infrastructure.
The escalation comes amid stalled peace negotiations and increasing international pressure on both sides to reach a ceasefire. Russia has condemned the attacks as terrorism while Ukraine maintains its right to strike military and strategic targets on Russian soil as long as Russia continues its assault on Ukrainian cities.