Ukraine Launches Major Drone Attack on Russia, Including Moscow; Hundreds of Drones Intercepted

MOSCOW/KYIV, Aug 17: Ukraine launched large-scale drone attacks on Moscow and several other Russian regions, with Russian authorities reporting multiple deaths and injuries as well as damage to industrial and logistics facilities.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said 822 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted or destroyed across the country over a 24-hour period. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said around 600 drones were heading towards the Moscow region, with a large number intercepted before reaching the capital.

A warehouse belonging to Wildberries, one of Russia’s major online retail companies, caught fire following a drone attack in Podolsk near Moscow. Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said an 83-year-old man was killed in the incident, while several others were injured.

According to Reuters, the Wildberries warehouse is located in Kolledino, around 45 kilometres south of Moscow, where thick clouds of smoke were seen following the attack. A warehouse near Domodedovo was also reportedly damaged.

The Guardian reported that Russian authorities claimed to have shot down a total of 1,478 Ukrainian drones, although the figure could not be independently verified. The attacks targeted areas around Moscow as well as other Russian regions.

According to the Financial Times, Ukraine sent more than 600 drones towards Moscow during the latest attacks, while other strikes targeted Russian logistics, industrial facilities and infrastructure.

Reports said Ukrainian defence company Fire Point claimed responsibility for attacks on some Wildberries facilities. The company said FP-1 long-range drones were used in the strikes. Kyiv has alleged that some logistics facilities also assist in the transportation of dual-use equipment for military purposes.

Russian authorities said five people were killed in Ukrainian drone attacks in the Rostov region, bringing the reported death toll from the attacks in different areas to at least six.

Meanwhile, Russia also launched missile and drone attacks on several parts of Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities said two people were killed and 14 injured in Kryvyi Rih, while Russian drone attacks also caused fires in Kyiv.

The latest strikes mark a further escalation in long-range drone and missile attacks between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides continuing to target infrastructure and industrial facilities amid the ongoing war.