Ukraine deployed over 400 drones in an overnight assault targeting Moscow and its surrounding region, marking one of the most extensive drone attacks of the ongoing conflict. The strikes hit an oil depot and logistics facilities located more than 250 miles from the Ukrainian border, according to Ukrainian and Russian officials.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that over 400 drones were directed at the Moscow region between Sunday evening and early Monday. Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted 85 drones approaching the capital and a total of 381 drones across Russian regions, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. These claims could not be independently verified.
Regional authorities cited by Reuters reported that at least 10 people were wounded in the Moscow region, including three Chinese nationals. In Domodedovo, Russia, seven injuries were reported after a residential building was struck, and a fire broke out at an industrial park near one of Moscow's main airports. An explosion was reported to have struck a building in Domodedovo during the attack.
The scale and reach of this operation suggest a strategic shift by Ukraine, moving beyond isolated strikes to build a sustained campaign against the infrastructure supporting Russia's war effort. By targeting oil facilities, transportation networks, and logistics hubs, Kyiv aims to disrupt the flow of fuel and supplies to Russian forces, diminish Kremlin revenue, and compel Moscow to divert air defense systems from the front lines.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces targeted logistics facilities and an oil depot in the Moscow region, stating on X that these strikes were a response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Wildberries, a major Russian e-commerce company, temporarily evacuated its logistics center in the Podolsk district as a precaution. Ukraine has previously accused Wildberries of selling supplies utilized by the Russian military.
This Ukrainian operation followed one of Russia's largest ballistic missile attacks of the war against Kyiv. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 41 missiles of various types in that overnight barrage, which killed at least one person and wounded 16. Separately, a Russian missile attack on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship Golden Leo near Odesa killed 10 people, including nine crew members and a Ukrainian maritime pilot.
Analysts suggest that while strikes on fuel infrastructure can cause disruption, they may not fundamentally alter President Vladimir Putin's approach to the war. Ksenia Svetlova, associate fellow at the Chatham House policy institute, argued that potential hardship for Russian citizens due to fuel shortages or damage to companies like Wildberries does not significantly influence Putin, as the "war machine is operating at full force."
The escalation in attacks occurs amid domestic political developments in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy recently removed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a figure credited with expanding Ukraine's drone capabilities and modernizing military procurement. Fedorov's supporters view him as a reformer who challenged entrenched practices. Demonstrations have occurred following his dismissal, with protesters demanding his reinstatement and the removal of Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, whom they accuse of resisting modernization and maintaining a rigid command structure. Zelenskyy stated that Fedorov's relationship with Syrskyi had deteriorated to a point where they could no longer work together.
Consultations regarding Ukraine's military leadership are ongoing, with Zelenskyy reportedly speaking with Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi about ensuring a coordinated application of experience from all branches of Ukraine’s defense forces. No decision on Syrskyi’s future has been announced.