Ukraine launched a massive overnight drone attack against Russia on Tuesday, striking a vital satellite communications center near Moscow.
The operation is part of an intensified long-range aerial campaign by Kyiv.
>>> Montreal City Services Adjust Schedules for Canada Day Holiday
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its air defense forces intercepted or destroyed 419 Ukrainian drones across 18 regions, including the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that at least 61 drones heading toward the capital region were neutralized during the multi-wave assault.
Target: Dubna Space Communications Facility
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the operation targeted the Dubna space communications facility, located roughly 310 miles from the Ukrainian border.
He described it as a specialized satellite communications facility used for intelligence gathering and coordinating the activities of Russia's occupying forces in Ukraine.
This marks the second time Kyiv has struck the strategic facility, following a previous aerial assault in late June.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukrainian defense forces have already reached four such Russian centers in Moscow and Vladimir oblasts.
>>> Foreign Capital Shifts Reshape Canadian and Indian Financial Positions
“Step by step, we are implementing our plan of long-range sanctions and making it as difficult as possible for the aggressor state to carry out its invasion operations against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy stated.
He added that relevant actions are also being prepared against other similar enemy facilities.
Civilian Casualties Reported
The strikes caused civilian casualties in regions surrounding the capital. A six-month-old infant died when a drone hit a private residence in Yegoryevsk.
Moscow region Governor Andrey Vorobyov confirmed rescue teams extracted four individuals from the rubble, but the infant passed away en route to the hospital.
A separate drone crash killed a 61-year-old woman in the Tver region. Flights were briefly disrupted at Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports.
Kremlin officials strongly condemned the overnight aerial operation.
>>> UK Government Challenges US Over Airbase Court Martial Case
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the severe impact on local residents, stating, “Civilians are suffering, children are dying.”
