Ukraine launched its largest drone attack of the war, sending an estimated 400 unmanned aerial vehicles toward the Moscow region overnight. The strikes targeted strategic sites across the region surrounding the Russian capital, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov.
Air defense systems and electronic warfare systems repelled the attack, Vorobyov stated on Telegram. The main impacts were reported in Podolsk, Domodedovo, and the Odintsovo district. Two people were wounded, and several civilian infrastructure facilities sustained damage and were set ablaze. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that more than 400 drones were launched between 8:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. local time. Most were neutralized at a distance, with 85 destroyed as they approached the city.
Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, temporarily evacuated its logistics center in Podolsk as a precautionary measure, though operations later resumed. This follows significant drone strikes over the weekend on two of the company's hubs, which reportedly caused at least £1.5 billion in damages and resulted in the deaths of seven warehouse workers and injuries to dozens more.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defense systems shot down 381 Ukrainian drones over Russian territories, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. Confirmed targets included an oil depot in Podolsk and a logistics hub near Moscow's Domodedovo airport.
Dramatic footage showed a drone exploding on a high-rise tower, leading to six people being hospitalized with blast injuries. The attacks occurred amidst a broader escalation, following Russia's most powerful ballistic missile attack on Kyiv on Sunday. Reports also indicated a power blackout in Russian-occupied Crimea and a fire at a military airfield in Yeisk, Krasnodar region, attributed to drone strikes.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its strikes on maritime targets. A Russian attack on a Turkish-owned ship, the GOLDEN LEO, in the Black Sea resulted in the deaths of ten crew members, with five others reported missing and presumed dead, and eight wounded. Ukrainian sources stated the vessel was carrying grain and was near Snake Island. Russian authorities claimed such vessels were carrying military cargo or used for drone launches. Russia has reported losing at least 178 vessels in the past two weeks.
In addition to the drone attacks, Russian strikes elsewhere in Ukraine killed an 11-year-old girl and two elderly women in Zaporizhzhia, with 42 civilians injured. Ukrainian officials stated these strikes mocked Russian claims of not targeting civilians.