UKRAINE has launched its ‘biggest ever’ attack on Moscow as 1,600 drones were unleashed across Russia.
Dramatic footage shows massive fires raging in the district, as well as the Sofyino logistics techno park, with columns of thick black smoke pouring into the sky.
A man, 74, and a woman, 44, were killed and 20 others were wounded, the youngest of which is aged 15, as several apartment blocks were hit in the operation.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said: “The largest-ever attack by enemy drones on Moscow has been repelled.
“Since yesterday, over 1,600 UAVs have been repelled at all frontlines. Of these, 450 were approaching Moscow.”
At the same time, the Ministry of Defence said its forces had “intercepted and destroyed” 1,110 Ukrainian drones over various regions of Russia, the Black Sea, and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
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The Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya, which supplies almost half of the capital’s fuel demand, including the airports, was also severely damaged.
There were reports that a heat and power plant was also hit in the strike.
Moscow airports have been hit with hundreds of delays and cancellations in the aftermath.
Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the massive attack on the Moscow region, saying “our long-range response made itself felt.”
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The Ukrainian President said: “One of Russia’s key oil industry sites and the aggressor’s logistics facility were hit.
“These are billions of dollars that sustain the war machine.
“Systems used included FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, Palianytsia, Vendetta, Liutyi, Bars, Flamingo, Sichen, and Pelican.”
Zelensky added “sanctions were also imposed” on a facility in the Voronezh region.
“Steps toward de-escalation are on the table – in energy and food security. What is needed is political will,” he said.
Debris from a suspected Ukrainian-made FP-5 Flamingo missile was seen in the Moscow region.
It is the first time that Ukraine has confirmed the use of the domestically produced cruise missiles.
Hours before the attack, Zelensky said he had approved new long-range operations in response to Russian strikes.
“We are preparing to expand our long-range capabilities,” he warned.
The operation comes on the last day of Russia’s State Duma elections – a balloting that was virtually devoid of opposition to Vladimir Putin and is all but certain to cement the Kremlin’s dominance.
Most anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot.
Those who did run from the liberal Yabloko party, which has polled in the single digits in recent years but hoped to tap into war fatigue, said they feared for their freedom after courts handed long jail terms to two senior party figures before the vote for comments about the conflict deemed illegal by authorities.
It comes as Mad Vlad is set to mobilise 300,000 more men to feed his bloodthirsty war machine.
And Polish PM Donald Tusk warned that Russia is plotting to launch “hybrid” attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, including his own.
Tusk also said such attacks by Russia could coincide with “political changes in certain European countries granting power,” but did not name them.
Western leaders have also warned attacks are likely to focus on more intensive drone and missile launches into Nato territory to test resolve.
In August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the first to warn that Russia is planning to draft another 300,000 by the end of 2026 – and another 300,000 in 2027.