Ukraine launched one of its largest long-range drone attacks of the war overnight, sending more than 400 drones toward Moscow as Russia responded with fresh missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, deepening a conflict that shows little sign of ending.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses intercepted most of the drones before they reached the capital, including 85 near the city.
Regional officials reported that at least 10 people were injured, while residential buildings and infrastructure sustained damage.
The assault triggered fires at an industrial park south of Moscow, while Russian and independent media reported another blaze at an oil depot in Podolsk, though authorities did not immediately confirm the second incident.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s forces struck logistics facilities and an oil depot in the Moscow region. He also claimed Ukrainian forces hit two vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” transporting sanctioned oil, along with four cargo ships operating in the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger bus in the border region of Belgorod, killing five people, including a child, and injuring 23 others. The claims from both sides could not be independently verified.
The latest exchange came as Zelenskyy prepared for high-level talks aimed at easing political tensions at home following a controversial government reshuffle that sparked protests over changes in Ukraine’s military leadership.
While Kyiv has expanded its long-range drone campaign, targeting oil depots, logistics hubs and military infrastructure deep inside Russia, Moscow has intensified its use of ballistic missiles, exploiting weaknesses in Ukraine’s air-defense network.
The Institute for the Study of War said Russia has launched more ballistic missiles this month than its reported monthly production rate, suggesting it is drawing from existing stockpiles to maintain pressure on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched two ballistic missiles and 94 long-range drones overnight. Air defenses intercepted or electronically jammed 81 drones, but several strikes still caused damage across multiple locations.
Russian forces also targeted the southern port city of Odesa, striking fuel storage facilities, according to Moscow’s Defense Ministry.
In central Ukraine, a missile strike on Pavlohrad injured 13 people, including a 13-year-old girl, local officials said.
The fighting also spread to the Black Sea, where Ukraine’s Sea Ports Authority said a Russian strike hit a Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship shortly after it departed Odesa. The attack reportedly killed 10 crew members, including five Syrian sailors, while eight others were rescued.
As both sides continue exchanging long-range strikes, the war has evolved into an increasingly intense contest of drones, missiles and deep attacks far beyond the traditional front lines, further dimming hopes for a negotiated settlement.
