Russia, Ukraine trade major drone attacks as Moscow oil refinery hit

Russia and Ukraine engaged in intense drone attacks over the weekend, resulting in civilian casualties and targeting energy infrastructure, Reuters reported. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported two fatalities in the Moscow region, describing the Ukrainian drone assault as one of the most significant in the area. Russia claimed to have neutralized over 1,600 drones since Saturday, with 450 targeting Moscow.

Several drones struck the Moscow oil refinery, causing explosions and smoke plumes, though the full extent of the damage remained unknown. Ukraine's response to the attack was not disclosed.

The refinery, capable of processing 11.6 million metric tons of crude in 2024 and generating 2.9 million tons of gasoline and 3.2 million tons of diesel, faced potential disruption. Earlier, Russian parliamentary elections concluded on the same day as the drone onslaught. Sobyanin alleged the drone operation aimed to interfere with the voting process.

In Moscow's wider region, 400 individuals, including 70 children, were evacuated from a 21-story apartment building in Ramenskoye following the attacks. Ukrainian authorities reported a separate drone strike in the Kyiv region, claiming four lives, including three children. A mother and her two three-year-old children perished when a drone hit their home, and another girl succumbed to injuries in a hospital after a different strike.

Thirty-one sites across five districts in Kyiv sustained damage, with Fastiv district bearing the brunt. Homes, industrial and utility buildings, vehicles, and an agricultural facility were among the affected structures. The latest strikes followed U.S. President Donald Trump's comments the previous week, suggesting a temporary cessation of attacks on the energy infrastructure of both Russia and Ukraine.