At least 4 people were killed after Ukraine launched its largest UAV attack on Moscow in more than a year, according to Russian officials on May 18.
Among the victims were 3 people in Moscow and one person in Belgorod province, bordering northeastern Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense said more than 1,000 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down on Russian territory within 24 hours.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously declared that he would respond after a large-scale UAV and missile attack by Russia on Kiev for 2 consecutive days. Mr. Zelensky posted a video showing the UAV flying, black smoke rising with firefighters on duty.
Our reactions to Russia's prolonged war and attacks on cities and communities are completely justified," Zelensky wrote.
He said Ukraine has the ability to attack targets more than 500km from the border despite the dense air defense system around Moscow. In a speech on the same evening, Mr. Zelensky said that Ukraine's increased military activity has created a "change in the balance of action on the front lines".
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army said that a strike caused a fire at a factory outside Moscow specializing in producing high-precision weapons. A UAV coordination command in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region was also attacked.
TASS news agency quoted Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accusing Kiev of carrying out "another large-scale terrorist attack".
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that Russian air defense destroyed 81 UAVs heading towards the capital since midnight on May 17. This is the largest attack targeting the city in more than a year.
Mr. Sobyanin said 12 people were injured, mostly near the entrance to the Moscow refinery. 3 houses were damaged but the factory's operating technology was not affected.
Moscow regional governor Andrei Vorobyov said a woman was killed when her private house was hit in Khimki. 2 other men died in Pogorelki village in Mytishchi district. Many residential buildings and infrastructure were also damaged.
Sheremetyevo airport announced that UAV debris fell into the airport area but did not cause damage.
