Russia Thwarts Massive Ukrainian Drone Attack, Downing 158 Drones Across 15 Regions

In a bold move, Russia claimed to have thwarted a massive Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday, downing 158 drones across 15 regions, including two over the capital Moscow. The drones were reportedly targeting energy infrastructure, with a coal-fired power plant and an oil refinery hit in the Moscow region.

According to Russia’s defense ministry, most of the drones – 122 – were downed over the regions of Kursk, Bryansk, Voronezh, and Belgorod, which border Ukraine. Regional governor Aleksandr Bogomaz stated that "our defenders are repelling an attempted massive UAV attack on the territory of the Bryansk region."

This latest attack comes just days after Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was targeted by over 200 Russian drones and missiles in one of the biggest such attacks. It also comes nearly a month since Ukraine went on the offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, even as Russian troops continue their steady advance in eastern Ukraine.

Both sides have targeted energy infrastructure since Russia began its campaign in Ukraine in February 2022. A local official in the Moscow region reported that three drones had tried to hit the Kashira coal-fired power station, but there were no victims or damages, and electricity was still reaching clients "correctly."

Russian news agencies also reported a fire at the Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya, although mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that there was "no damage or casualties." In the Belgorod region, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that the glass of three residential buildings was damaged, and a utility building was completely destroyed in one private residence.

This latest development in the ongoing conflict comes as Ukraine’s drones struck two fuel depots on Wednesday, setting them ablaze in southwest Russia’s Rostov region and the northern Kirov region.