Russian air defences intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight, including dozens aimed at Moscow, as fresh attacks on both sides of the war left multiple civilians dead and disrupted transport and energy infrastructure.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 84 drones targeting the Russian capital had been destroyed over the past 24 hours.
Writing on Telegram, he said emergency crews had been sent to the locations where the drones were brought down but provided no additional details.
The attacks forced the temporary suspension of operations at Moscow’s major airports, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and nearby Zhukovskiy, according to Russia’s aviation watchdog.
Ukraine’s military, meanwhile, said it had struck the Dubna satellite communications centre in the Moscow region.
Russian news agencies, citing the defence ministry, reported that air defence systems shot down a total of 301 drones overnight, including over territories in occupied parts of Ukraine.
The latest wave of strikes comes days after a major Ukrainian drone assault hit Moscow’s only oil refinery, one of the most significant attacks on the Russian capital since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In Ukraine, Russian attacks claimed at least six lives. In the northeastern Sumy region, a drone strike killed a 13-year-old boy, his 36-year-old father and his 73-year-old grandmother, regional prosecutors said.
Regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov later clarified that the elderly woman was the mother of the man’s roommate.
Further south, Russian drone strikes on Zaporizhzhia killed two people and wounded seven others, Ukraine’s emergency services reported. Authorities released footage showing firefighters battling a large blaze and recovering a body from the scene.
In the Odesa region, an Iskander ballistic missile strike on Sunday evening killed one person and injured three others, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper. He said the missile struck an agricultural facility, igniting vehicles and fuel storage tanks.
Elsewhere, officials in Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-annexed Crimea, announced the cancellation of all outdoor public events on Monday.
Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev also said street lighting would remain switched off and urged residents to reduce electricity consumption.
Crimea, a popular holiday destination for Russians, is also facing fuel shortages.
Authorities have restricted fuel supplies to government agencies responsible for essential services and security after Ukrainian attacks disrupted supply routes and energy facilities.
THREE VESSELS UNDER RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACK, CREW MEMBER KILLED
Ukraine’s navy said Russian drones struck the Turkish-operated dry cargo vessel Victress, sailing under the Panamanian flag, in the Black Sea.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said a 58-year-old Egyptian cook was killed in the attack, while eight crew members, including Turkish and Indian nationals, escaped aboard a lifeboat.
The vessel suffered heavy damage, Kuleba said on Telegram. According to LSEG data, the Victress is operated by Turkey’s Rana Denizcilik, which could not immediately be reached for comment.
“Russia remains the main threat to the Black Sea security and prosperity,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
Kuleba added that two other vessels sailing under the flags of Palau and Belize were also targeted overnight.
No injuries were reported aboard either ship, and both continued their voyages.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s ports, shipping lanes and commercial vessels throughout the war, disrupting maritime trade routes that are critical to Ukraine’s economy.
