Ukraine conducted what Russian officials described as the year's largest-scale attack, deploying around 822 drones primarily targeting Moscow, while Russia responded with strikes across Ukrainian cities that killed at least seven people.
Ukraine launched what Russian authorities characterised as the most extensive drone operation of 2026, deploying approximately 822 unmanned aircraft in coordinated strikes across Russian territory. Moscow's regional governor stated that roughly 600 drones targeted the capital, describing it as "one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory." The assault resulted in at least seven deaths across Russian territory, with five fatalities reported in the south-western Rostov region and additional casualties in Belgorod and the Moscow region, according to local officials.
A significant target was a Wildberries warehouse located 25 kilometres from central Moscow, which caught fire following the strikes. The online retailer, often compared to Amazon, has been repeatedly hit since July, with Ukrainian officials stating the attacks target logistics facilities allegedly used for military supply purposes. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported three people were injured in the warehouse strike, with videos showing substantial fires and smoke plumes.
In response, Russia launched counterattacks against Ukrainian positions, killing at least seven people and injuring more than 39 across multiple regions including Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Donetsk, and Kherson. Kyiv experienced four separate air-raid alerts overnight, with at least six people injured, including a child. Russian forces struck a book market in the capital's Pochayna district, destroying inventory and leaving business owners assessing significant losses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 13 regions faced attacks this week involving over 1,550 drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs, and 62 missiles.
The intensifying aerial campaign reflects the war's predominantly airborne nature since Russia's 2022 invasion. Both nations accuse each other of targeting civilians, while the conflict remains characterised by attritional ground warfare along an extended front line with marginal territorial shifts.
