Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Russia's Tula, Nizhny Novgorod oblasts

Ukrainian drones reportedly struck Russia's Tula and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts overnight on August 19, according to monitoring channels. Eyewitnesses reported explosions in Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, while drones were intercepted and shot down near Dzerzhinsk in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, according to Exilenova Plus monitoring channel.

Tula Oblast Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed the attack, stating that Russia's air defenses intercepted 27 drones. However, no reports of damage to buildings or infrastructure have been confirmed. Ukraine frequently targets military infrastructure deep within Russia and the occupied territories to weaken Moscow's capacity to continue its war efforts.

On the previous night, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack targeting Moscow and the surrounding region on August 18, as reported by Russian Telegram media channels citing eyewitnesses. On August 16, Ukraine conducted a major overnight drone attack on cities across Russia's Moscow Oblast, damaging a warehouse belonging to the major online retailer Wildberries.

One person was reported killed in the attacks, and a fire broke out at the Wildberries warehouse in Koledino near Moscow after it was struck by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's Defense Ministry later confirmed the attack, noting that it was the company's largest facility, spanning 250,000 square meters.