Ukraine hits Moscow with one of its largest drone attacks in two years

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin posted on Telegram that “most were destroyed by air defences at long range” after radar picked up roughly 650 unmanned aircraft heading toward the city, while regional governor Andrei Vorobyov counted 185 drones neutralised over sixteen municipalities.

The human toll, though modest compared with the scale of the raid, was immediate. A further three people later succumbed to wounds, bringing the death count to three according to later regional reports. In total, 47 houses across seven municipalities and four apartments in the village of Lobanovo bore the scars of falling debris.

Beyond the residential fallout, the strike zeroed in on a strategic oil refinery that supplies more than a third of the Moscow region’s fuel – gasoline, diesel and aviation kerosene that keep both civilian traffic and military convoys moving.

The timing was unmistakable. Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha seized on the coincidence, dubbing the day “Moscow Burning Day” and urging President Putin to “look out the Kremlin window, see the flames over Moscow — and end this war.”

Analysts note that the operation signals a sharpening Ukrainian long‑range capability, moving the conflict from the front lines into Russia’s political heartland. By striking a fuel hub that fuels both civilian life and military logistics, Kyiv may be aiming to strain the Kremlin’s supply chains ahead of winter, while also sending a psychological message to a population that has so far been insulated from direct attacks. The simultaneous disruption of flights at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports – temporary bans that were lifted only after sunrise – underscores the breadth of the raid’s impact on daily life.

Russian sources differ on the exact number of drones launched and downed – Sobyanin’s 450‑drone loss figure, the governor’s 185 neutralised count, and other statements of “nearly 900” downed aircraft – making it hard to gauge the precise scale of the offensive. The operational status of the refinery remains unclear; while damage was evident, officials have not confirmed whether production has resumed. How the strike will shape the final days of the Duma vote, or whether it will provoke a calibrated Russian retaliation, remains an open question that will likely unfold over the coming weeks.