ALBAWABA - Fire was spotted in several areas across Moscow, including a major Moscow oil refinery, Russian authorities said.
The overnight drone attack triggered a large blaze and damage while air defenses engaged dozens of incoming drones.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, confirmed the attack by Ukrainian forces on Russia in a post on Telegram.
Ukraine carried out its largest drone offensive on Moscow in two years on Thursday, said Russian state-run news agency TASS. The attacks targeted and damaged infrastructure, caused fires, and sent debris raining down across Moscow.
Air defenses destroyed 194 drones over Moscow in just eight hours, with attacks still ongoing Thursday morning, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
CNN cited the mayor, who noted that the attack is higher than other days of heavy attacks in recent months.
Authorities temporarily suspended flights at all major airports in the Russian capital on Thursday over the attack.
Russian Ministry of Defense – including over the Sea of Azov said air defenses intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones overall.
Several drones on Thursday struck the Moscow Oil Refinery in the southeastern district of Kapotnya, which is the second attack this week alone; earlier it was hit on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
