Ukraine and Russia exchanged major aerial attacks overnight, with Ukrainian drones striking a Moscow oil refinery for the second time this week while Russian forces launched ballistic missiles and drones at Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, air defence systems intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones across several regions overnight, including nearly 200 that were headed toward Moscow.
Authorities said some drones nevertheless penetrated the capital’s defences and struck key targets.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that several drones hit an oil refinery in the Russian capital, marking the second attack on the facility in recent days.
A previous strike earlier in the week reportedly disrupted operations at the refinery, adding to pressure on Russia’s energy infrastructure.
Officials in the Moscow region also reported damage to residential buildings, private homes and an industrial facility.
Operations at Sheremetyevo International Airport, the city’s busiest airport, were temporarily suspended, with passengers evacuated as a precaution.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported a fresh wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv.
The head of the city’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, warned residents to seek shelter as ballistic missiles targeted the capital.
In northeastern Ukraine, officials in the city of Sumy said one person was killed following a drone strike.
Ukrainian officials said Russia launched hundreds of drones and several ballistic missiles during the overnight assault, although air defence systems succeeded in intercepting most of the incoming threats.
The latest escalation comes days after a large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv reportedly killed 11 people and damaged a UNESCO-listed monastery, drawing condemnation from several European leaders.
The renewed attacks coincide with diplomatic efforts by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to secure additional international backing for Ukraine and push for negotiations aimed at ending the more than four-year conflict.
Zelenskyy disclosed that he had held discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and other G7 leaders to coordinate support for Ukraine.
Following the talks, G7 leaders pledged to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence capabilities and increase economic pressure on Russia through tighter sanctions targeting the country’s oil and gas sectors.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had secured commitments for additional air defence missiles, support for domestic production of missile systems and assistance to help the country through the coming winter.
He stressed that continued international support remains critical and reiterated that Russia must not be allowed to normalize the war as efforts continue to seek a lasting resolution to the conflict.
