Ukraine Intensifies Drone Strikes Deep Inside Russia Targeting Military and Energy Sites

Russia experienced one of the largest waves of Ukrainian drone attacks since the war began, with Moscow reporting the interception of hundreds of drones targeting military facilities, oil depots, and several regions. Russian authorities confirmed casualties, injuries, and fires at fuel warehouses and an oil refinery. Concurrently, Russian security forces thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack described as "terrorist" against an airbase in the Rostov region.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its air defense systems shot down and destroyed 376 Ukrainian drones overnight, marking one of the biggest aerial assaults Russia has faced since the conflict started. These interceptions occurred between 8 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday across multiple areas including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov, Rostov, Smolensk, Tver, Krasnodar, Moscow and its suburbs, Crimea, and the Sea of Azov.

In Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that air defenses downed four drones heading toward the capital, bringing the total number of drones intercepted near Moscow to 14 since the start of the day. Near the Belgorod border, Governor Alexander Shubayev stated that one person was killed and ten injured due to Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours, with Ukrainian forces conducting 49 attacks and Russian air defenses shooting down 104 drones in the area.

Kursk Governor Alexander Khintchin reported one injury in the Rylsk area from a Ukrainian attack that damaged a vehicle. A fire broke out at the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region after drone debris fell, though no casualties were reported. Authorities in Rostov also confirmed fires at two fuel facilities, and local reports indicated a fire at the Taganrog port following the strikes.

In a further development, the Russian Federal Security Service announced it foiled a drone attack aimed at the Rostov-Central military airport, accusing Ukrainian intelligence of orchestrating the operation. According to Russian claims, a Russian citizen recruited by Ukrainian intelligence planned the attack for financial reward but alerted Russian authorities, leading to the discovery of a cache containing 13 drones, each loaded with over one kilogram of explosives. The operation’s goal was reportedly to destroy the airport infrastructure and target military personnel and aircraft at the base.