Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Attack on Russia: Moscow Oil Refinery Targeted
On Saturday night, Ukraine launched an unprecedented attack on Russia using over 150 drones. This marks the largest drone assault in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has been raging for two and a half years. Ukraine targeted several locations in Russia, including the capital city of Moscow.
According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, the city was hit by 11 drones, targeting an oil refinery and a technical facility. The attack on the oil refinery resulted in an explosion and a significant plume of smoke.
Russian officials reported that Ukraine launched 158 drones across 15 regions. They stated that Russian air defenses managed to intercept and destroy nearly all the drones. There have been no reports of casualties or damage from this attack so far, and Ukraine has yet to comment on the incident.
Russia Responds with Missiles and Guided Bombs on Kharkiv
In retaliation, Russia bombarded Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, with ballistic missiles and guided bombs on Sunday. Ukrainian officials reported that at least 47 people were injured, including five children. The number of casualties may rise as the situation develops.
The Russian assault caused explosions at 10 locations in Kharkiv, marking the second major attack in 48 hours. Earlier, on Friday, a similar attack resulted in the deaths of six Ukrainians, including a 14-year-old girl, and left 59 people seriously injured. The attacks also destroyed a 12-story residential building and a children's park in the city, which has a population of 1.3 million and is just 25 miles from the Russian border.
Ukraine Aims for Deeper Strikes into Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now pushing for deeper strikes within Russia. According to Reuters, he is pressuring the United States for support in this endeavor. Zelensky released a video on Saturday highlighting a recent Russian airstrike on Kharkiv, which resulted in the deaths of six Ukrainians and injuries to 97 others.
Zelensky emphasized that these attacks could only be stopped if Ukraine targets Russian airfields and military sites. He mentioned ongoing discussions with allied nations to gain their support for such measures.
Need for Long-Range Missiles to Defend Ukraine
Zelensky stated, "The only way to eliminate Russian bombs from Ukrainian skies is by intensifying our attacks. This is the only path to forcing Russia to end the conflict and move towards peace. We need long-range missiles capable of striking deep into Russia and permission to use them."
He also noted that Ukrainian representatives have shared all relevant information with their international allies. Earlier, on August 30-31, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umirov met with U.S. officials and experts in Washington to discuss these needs.
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