MOSCOW — Russia was targeted overnight by one of the largest coordinated Ukrainian aerial assaults since the beginning of the conflict. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its air defense systems intercepted and downed as many as 555 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across multiple regions.
The extensive drone swarm triggered widespread disruption to civilian infrastructure and transportation networks within the Russian capital. Authorities in Moscow ordered an immediate temporary suspension of all commercial flights across its major airports. In addition, vehicular traffic was completely halted along sections of Moscow’s main ring road following multiple drone strikes targeting a nearby oil refinery.
Footage and photos circulating widely online purported to capture massive explosions ripping through the facility. In one notable instance, the force of a detonation launched an oil container lid hundreds of feet into the air. Local officials have yet to release a full assessment regarding the total structural damage or casualties resulting from the wave of strikes.
