Kathmandu. Ukraine has launched its largest-ever drone attack against Russia. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, around one thousand drones and four cruise missiles were shot down overnight. Among them, about 200 drones were heading towards the capital, Moscow.
Russia claimed that it activated its air defense system and destroyed most of the drones and missiles. However, it has been reported that some strategic structures were damaged due to the attack.
During the attack, an oil depot in the southern Rostov region was destroyed in an explosion. It has been confirmed that one person died there. An explosion and a massive fire also occurred at an oil refinery near Moscow. Local residents witnessed the lid of an oil tank being blown away by the explosion and thick black smoke spreading across the sky.
A shopping center in that area also caught fire, and residential as well as commercial buildings were damaged by falling drone debris. Some tall buildings were evacuated for safety. Flight services were temporarily suspended at Moscow’s main airports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that this attack was a response to Russia’s recent actions against Kyiv. He also mentioned that the Ukrainian military targeted structures that support Russia’s war operations.
Zelensky has now urged Russia to adopt a diplomatic path to end the war. He also praised the coordinated operations of the Ukrainian military, intelligence agencies, and security forces.
At the time of the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin was attending a summit meeting with leaders of Southeast Asian countries in Kazan. He has not yet given a public reaction regarding this matter.
Since the war began in 2022, Ukrainian drone attacks had been limited in scale. However, after 2023, such drones have started reaching Moscow. In recent years, Ukraine appears to have increased its capability to launch long-range attacks.
On the other hand, Russia has also deployed powerful air defense systems around the capital. Despite this, both countries have been making each other’s oil depots, refineries, power stations, and military structures their main targets.
Meanwhile, the G7 group of seven major industrial countries in the world has announced additional military assistance to Ukraine. The group stated that Ukraine will be provided with more air defense systems, missile defense equipment, and long-range weapons.
Additionally, a declaration has been made to impose stricter sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas industry. They have also committed to providing further assistance to meet Ukraine’s energy needs before the upcoming winter.
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