At least three people were killed and several injured in a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, Russian officials said. The attack, which occurred overnight, also caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in the area. A woman died in Khimki, north of Moscow, and a person was trapped under rubble, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobiev.
A man and a woman were killed in the village of Pogorelki, and a male Indian citizen was also among the dead, India’s Moscow embassy confirmed. The embassy added that three others were injured, but it was unclear if these casualties were included in Vorobiev’s tally. Another person died in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strikes as an “entirely justified” response to deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Russian state news agency Tass reported that the strikes were the biggest attack on Moscow in over a year. Earlier this week, a massive Russian drone and missile attack killed 24 people in Kyiv.
Russia’s military said 556 drones were intercepted around the country, with about 130 of them in the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 12 people were injured when drones hit an entrance to the city’s oil refinery, and three nearby houses were damaged. Sheremetyevo Airport, Russia’s busiest airport, also reported drone wreckage on its territory, but no one was injured.
Escalating Conflict
The drone attack is the latest escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine’s military has intensified its strikes on key energy facilities across Russia, which Kyiv says are legitimate targets as they allow Russia to continue its war effort.
The conflict shows no signs of easing, with both sides exchanging blows and causing significant damage and loss of life. The international community has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but a lasting solution remains elusive. As the conflict continues to escalate, the humanitarian toll will likely continue to rise, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.
