Ukrainian Drone Attacks Continue to Hammer Moscow: Ukraine continued with its massive, coordinated attack on the Russian capital over the weekend, launching more than 400 drones toward the region.
The strikes—one of the largest of the war—targeted logistics centers, oil and gas facilities, and warehouses, killing several people and wounding dozens, while setting multiple buildings ablaze.
Putin In September of 2022 Creative Commons Photo
The Moscow Times reported that authorities in the three regions bordering Ukraine — Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk — reported four civilians were killed and approximately 30 people were wounded in small towns and villages from overnight or early Monday morning Ukrainian drone strikes.
In the Bryansk region, a firefighter was killed while responding to a fire.
Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that over 400 drones were deployed, with 85 intercepted specifically in the vicinity of the capital.
Logistical Hubs Were Once Again Heavily Targeted
A few hours before the Moscow attack, Ukraine launched further attacks on Russia’s oil, gas, and logistical hubs—including major supply warehouses and an oil depot— killing at least seven workers and injuring dozens more.
Sobyanin announced that waves of drones targeted the Moscow region between 8:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. He credited air defense systems with intercepting the vast majority of them at long range.
Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov posted on Telegram that emergency services responded to explosions, fires, and debris damage in the Podolsk, Domodedovo, and Odintsovo districts.
Putin in June 2026 Creative Commons Photo
He added that the wounded included three Chinese nationals who were injured in a drone attack on the town of Domodedovo, close to one of Moscow’s main airports.
Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, said Monday that its logistics center in the Podolsk district had been evacuated as a precaution but later resumed normal operations.
The Ukrainian military has frequently accused Wildberries of actively supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine by providing logistical support for the military.
Yevgeniya Khrustaleva, Domodedovo’s mayor, said in a statement on Telegram that a fire had broken out at a local industrial park and that a residential building had also been struck.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defenses intercepted 381 Ukrainian drones across the country and over the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine’s 40-Day Influence Operation Continues
Ukraine’s increased attacks on Russian energy facilities in recent months are part of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s 40-day influence operation to pressure Moscow to end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram Saturday that Ukrainian long-range strikes hit two “significant logistical facilities in the Moscow and Tambov regions.”
“These facilities were used by the aggressor to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment,” he wrote. An oil facility was also hit, he added.
“Shadow Fleet” In The Sea Of Azov Targeted
Ukraine launched further attacks to damage Russia’s “shadow fleet” and to limit Russia’s fuel supplies to Moscow’s illegally occupied Crimea over the weekend.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces hit four Russian shadow fleet vessels in the Black Sea and 13 electrical substations in occupied Crimea and other occupied territories late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) followed that attack with attacks on seven Russian shadow fleet vessels, seven energy facilities in the occupied territories, six Russian air defense assets and two logistics facilities on the night of 19-20 July.
Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine’s USF said, “CRIMEA️ STOP: Seven ️shadow fleet vessels, Seven substations in Crimea and the TOT (temporarily occupied territories), six air defense units in Russia and two hellishly wild berries 2.0 (logistics facilities). The night of 19-20 July – all were dealt with.”
Brovdi added, “USF Operation Air Defence Downfall: six air defense elements destroyed in Yeisk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kamyshevatskaya, all in Russia: one Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system, two Nebo-SV radar systems, one Nebo-U, one Kasta 2E2 and one Gamma S1M.”
Brovdi claimed that Ukrainian drone attacks had struck 183 vessels between July 1 and 20, including 119 in the Sea of Azov and 64 in the Black Sea.
Brovdi said that the continued Ukrainian drone attacks have reduced the Kerch Ferry capacity by 75 percent. Three of the five ferries have been destroyed, and the remaining two have lost the ability to move independently and now operate as barges towed by tugboats.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications
