Rubble and Fire

Kyiv fires 60 drones at Putin’s beloved Moscow

On the left is the burning oil refinery; in the center, highlighted by a red circle, is a Ukrainian drone.(Bild: Krone-Collage/Exilenova+, Exilenova+, Krone KREATIV)

Thick columns of smoke hang over the Russian capital: According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, about 60 Ukrainian drones were fired at Moscow early Tuesday morning.

At five o’clock in the morning, loud explosions jolted people from their sleep. Dozens of drones had targeted the metropolis. The attack was so intense that all four of the city’s airports had to suspend operations. This has already become the new “normal” for Russians: During the holiday season, they now experience numerous flight cancellations and delays almost daily.

Most of the unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted. However, one drone struck a structure on the grounds of an oil refinery in Moscow, Sobyanin reported. No one was injured. Emergency crews are now clearing debris from the downed drones.

Attacks right in the heart of Russia are putting increasing pressure on the Kremlin. Many privileged Russians live in Moscow. And there had always been a general consensus that President Vladimir Putin would keep the war away from the capital.

Oil depot in southern Russia on fire
In total, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the shooting down of 172 drones over various regions. The ministry did not provide details on hits or damage.

Once again, Ukrainian drone attacks targeted oil industry facilities critical to Russia’s war economy. Authorities reported that an oil depot in the settlement of Poltavskaya in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region had been hit and caught fire. A county road was also closed as a result of the attack. Initially unverifiable video footage of a large cloud of smoke circulated on social media.

With these attacks on the Russian oil industry, Ukraine aims to disrupt military supplies and also target energy exports, which funnel billions into the country’s war chest. The attacks on refineries and fuel depots have already led to gasoline shortages in many places. In addition, gas prices are rising.