Moscow, Russia – In an unprecedented development, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that its air defenses had shot down 660 Ukrainian drones during a massive nighttime attack. This operation is one of the largest aerial attacks of the war since it began in February 2022 and represents a significant escalation in Kyiv’s long-range air response strategy.
Expanding scope of targeting
Expanding scope of targeting
Moscow and Tula under bombardment
In the heart of the capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that emergency services were dealing with the wreckage of the downed drones. He confirmed that there were no casualties or major structural damage. Field reports indicate that more than 47 drones were heading exclusively toward Moscow in the early hours of the morning.
Meanwhile, the Tula region, located 180 kilometers south of Moscow, was subjected to an airstrike described by officials as “massive.” The region’s governor, Dmitry Milayev, stated that the attack resulted in minor injuries to a woman. This followed a direct hit on a house in the Shchekino district by drone strikes.
“Economic strangulation” strategy
This escalation is part of a new Ukrainian strategy aimed at draining the Kremlin’s financial resources. In recent months, the Ukrainian armed forces have focused on intensifying their air campaigns against energy and oil infrastructure deep inside Russia. Kyiv’s objective with these attacks is to strike oil refineries and storage facilities, thereby depriving Russia of key revenue streams that fund its war machine.
It is worth noting that a similar incident occurred last week when a Ukrainian drone attack caused a massive fire at an oil refinery southeast of Moscow. As this pattern of confrontations continues, concerns are growing that the war could escalate to include more vital Russian infrastructure. This places air defense systems under constant strain from the intensity and frequency of Ukrainian attacks.
