Ukraine launches more than 1,600 drones at Russia

MOSCOW: Ukraine launched a massive wave of drone attacks against Russia, with Russian authorities saying more than 1,600 drones were intercepted or neutralised, including hundreds heading toward Moscow.

The large-scale assault came as Russia entered the final day of its parliamentary elections. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defences had dealt with more than 1,600 drones since Saturday, including around 450 that were approaching the capital.

The attack caused damage at a major oil refinery in Moscow, where fires and thick smoke were reported. Russian officials said several drones reached the refinery, although the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

Two people were killed in the Moscow region, according to Russian authorities. A drone also struck a residential building, triggering a fire and forcing the evacuation of around 400 people, including children.

The scale of the attack made it one of the largest reported drone assaults on Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian officials described the operation as unprecedented and accused Kyiv of attempting to disrupt the parliamentary elections. Ukraine has not publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The barrage was followed by another exchange of drone attacks between the two sides. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 138 drones at Ukraine overnight, of which 101 were destroyed or neutralised by Ukrainian air defences. Hits were reported at 17 locations, with debris falling at several other sites.

The latest escalation highlights the growing role of drones in the Russia-Ukraine war, with both sides increasingly using unmanned aircraft to strike energy infrastructure, military facilities and other targets far from the front line.

The attacks also come amid continuing international efforts to reduce the intensity of the conflict, underscoring the difficulty of halting aerial strikes even as diplomatic efforts continue.