Moscow has been hit by the largest Ukrainian drone attack since the start of Russia's full-scale war, with nearly 200 drones striking targets around the Russian capital. The attack, which is believed to be in response to Russia's recent attacks on Ukrainian cities, has left 17 people wounded in the Moscow region and sparked widespread disruption to flights.
The attack, which was launched on Wednesday, saw drones strike a refinery and a shopping centre in the south-east of the city, with several residential high-rise blocks also evacuated. The Kapotnya refinery, which was hit for the third time in a month, was the target of one of the most significant explosions, with the lid of a large oil storage tank blown dozens of metres into the air.
The attack has sent shockwaves across Russia, with Moscow's four airports temporarily shut and more than 500 flights cancelled or delayed. Despite local authorities banning the publication of images of the aftermath of drone strikes, dozens of videos were posted on social media showing drones flying across the sky in broad daylight and explosions over industrial areas on the outskirts of Moscow.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said the strikes were a response to Russia's recent attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the destruction of a major religious landmark in Kyiv last week. 'It's time to end this war, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy,' he said in a statement on X.