Ukraine launched 620 drones at Moscow and surrounding areas into the early hours of Tuesday, in one of its biggest air assaults on the region, while Russian-controlled Crimea reported power outages following overnight strikes.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian forces had shot down 180 drones over the Moscow region and that emergency services were working at crash sites. He did not provide details on casualties or damage in the capital.
Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said drones struck a warehouse belonging to Russian e-commerce company Wildberries and other facilities near Moscow. At least three people, including a 10-year-old girl, were injured, he said.
Wildberries, which has been targeted repeatedly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said debris from a drone struck a wall at one of its warehouses, causing minor damage.
Several other Russian-controlled regions also reported heavy Ukrainian attacks, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
Krymenergo, Crimea’s largest power supplier, said southern districts came under Ukrainian drone attack overnight. Several settlements were cut off from electricity, while power supplies remained challenging in parts of the northwest, east and south of the peninsula.
Britain vows continued support for Ukraine
The attacks came as Britain reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine after Moscow warned London of consequences over reports that British-made drones had been used in strikes on Russian territory.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain would continue supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
“This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100% against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin,” Burnham told reporters.
He said Britain was providing support to enable Ukraine to defend itself and that the policy had remained consistent under successive British prime ministers.
“We are not fair weather friends,” Burnham said. “We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
The statements underline Britain’s continued backing for Kyiv as Ukraine carries out increasingly large-scale drone attacks against targets in Russia and Russian-controlled territory, while Moscow warns of consequences for countries supporting Ukraine.
