Ukraine launches its largest drone attack yet on Moscow, causing fires and airport shutdowns

Ukraine carried out its biggest drone assault on Moscow since the war began during the night between Wednesday and Thursday, sending nearly 200 unmanned aerial vehicles toward targets around the Russian capital. Moscow’s four airports were briefly shut, and more than 500 flights were canceled or delayed. Russian reports said at least 17 people were injured.

A fire broke out at the Kapotnya refinery in southeast Moscow after a direct hit, the third fire there in a month and the second this week. Separate reports said drone debris sparked a blaze at a nearby shopping center, prompting the evacuation of several high-rise residential buildings. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed almost 1,000 Ukrainian drones and four cruise missiles across the country in a single day.

The ministry also said an oil depot in Russia’s Rostov region was hit, killing one person. In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov threatened “massive strikes.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack was a response to Russia’s strike on Kyiv last week. “We do not want this war and never wanted it, but if Ukraine burns, Moscow will burn too,” he said, adding that it was time to end the war and that Russia should take diplomatic steps.