Adedokun Waliyu 
A massive wave of Ukrainian drone attacks struck Russia overnight, killing four people and injuring several others, according to Russian authorities, in what has become one of the largest aerial barrages of the war so far.
Russia’s defence ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 556 drones overnight across the country, with an additional 30 drones shot down after dawn. The interceptions reportedly occurred across 14 Russian regions, as well as Crimea and the Black and Azov seas.
Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as “entirely justified,” saying it was retaliation for Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukrainian cities and communities.
“Our responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and its attacks on our cities and communities are entirely justified,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukrainian long-range strikes had successfully reached the Moscow region.
Ukraine’s defence ministry stated that Moscow and its surrounding region had experienced their “largest-scale attack since the full-scale invasion began” in February 2022.
In the Moscow region, Governor Andrey Vorobyov said a woman was killed after a drone struck a private residence, while two men also lost their lives in the attacks. Four other people were reportedly wounded, and infrastructure facilities were damaged.
Authorities in Moscow said air defence systems intercepted more than 80 drones around the capital overnight. Twelve people were reported injured, including construction workers near an oil and gas refinery.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said refinery operations were not disrupted despite damage to three residential buildings.
In Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, another man was killed after a drone attack targeted a lorry in the Shebekino district.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said it intercepted 279 Russian drones out of 287 launched by Moscow overnight.
Ukraine also claimed responsibility for strikes targeting the Moscow Oil Refinery, the Solnechnogorsk oil depot, and several microelectronics manufacturing facilities, saying the attacks were aimed at weakening Russia’s oil revenues and military capabilities.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have remained stalled, with both sides continuing to exchange attacks despite previous ceasefire attempts and international calls for negotiations.
