Early Thursday morning, a massive drone strike by Ukraine targeted the Moscow Oil Refinery, marking the second such attack on the facility in a week. Located just nine miles from the Kremlin, the refinery is one of the largest in Russia and supplies over a third of the capital's fuel.
The attack resulted in substantial fires that engulfed the facility in the Kapotnya district, with thick black smoke billowing over the city. In response to the drone activity, four airports in Moscow were temporarily shut down.
Russian officials reported that their air defenses intercepted a total of 555 Ukrainian drones overnight, with nearly 200 of those targeted approaching Moscow. Despite these efforts, several drones managed to penetrate the defenses, causing damage in the suburbs. Reports indicated that a residential building in Zhukovsky was struck, leading to evacuations, while debris from the drones damaged private homes, a fitness center, and a shopping mall, resulting in at least 16 injuries.
The Ukrainian government framed the attack as retaliation for a recent Russian strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which had set the roof of its Dormition Cathedral ablaze. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was en route to Brussels for discussions with NATO and EU leaders, emphasized that Ukraine would respond decisively to ongoing Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy labeled the drone strikes as a justified response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, asserting that they serve as a form of leverage rather than traditional acts of war. His remarks came shortly after a significant coordination call with international leaders, including President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, aimed at reinforcing support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin was attending a summit in Kazan, projecting an image of normalcy amid the turmoil. In response to Ukraine's actions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov vowed to conduct regular coordinated strikes against Ukraine.
The dynamics of the conflict appear to be shifting, with Ukraine launching nearly twice as many drones as Russia has retaliated with, indicating a potential change in the balance of power.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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