In a significant escalation of tensions, the city of Moscow experienced a wave of drone attacks overnight from October 26 to 27, according to Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. He announced that Russian forces successfully shot down 34 Ukrainian drones aimed at the capital. Emergency services have been dispatched to the sites of the drone impacts.
Reports indicate that Moscow’s major airports, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, temporarily halted operations in response to the drone threat. Explosions were noted in different districts, including the Kommunarka area, as conveyed through Russian Telegram channels, although no casualties have been reported thus far.
Additionally, a fire erupted at an oil depot in Serpukhov, located within the Moscow Oblast, on the evening of October 26. While local news sources cited eyewitness accounts, the authorities have not released details regarding the cause of the blaze, which has since been extinguished.
To date, Ukrainian officials have not addressed these reports. Historically, Kyiv has utilized long-range drones to target Russian military and industrial sites, including oil refineries and weapon manufacturing facilities. This recent incident mirrors an earlier overnight strike on September 22, wherein Ukraine reportedly targeted Moscow with 34 drones.
Meanwhile, Russia continues its missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian cities, with a particularly harsh campaign over the past few days that has resulted in five fatalities and numerous injuries in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that in the past week, nearly 1,200 strike drones and 50 missiles, mainly ballistic, have been deployed by Russia against Ukraine.
This situation underscores the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and highlights an alarming trend of increasing attacks targeting urban centers. While the situation remains fluid, it is clear that both nations are prepared to escalate their military operations in the ongoing conflict.