Ukraine Launches 400 Drones Toward Moscow as Zelenskyy Faces Political Protests

Ukraine launched one of its largest long-range aerial offensives of the war overnight, sending more than 400 drones toward Moscow and surrounding regions in a coordinated attack that targeted oil depots, logistics hubs and other strategic infrastructure. The assault came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced growing domestic political pressure following protests sparked by recent changes in Ukraine’s military leadership.

Russian authorities said air defence systems intercepted 381 drones across several regions, including 85 over the Moscow area. Despite the interceptions, several drones struck their targets, triggering fires at an industrial park in Domodedovo, an oil depot in Podolsk and damage to residential buildings. At least 10 people were injured, including three Chinese nationals, while emergency crews responded to multiple incidents around the capital.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the overnight barrage as one of the largest attacks on the Russian capital since the war began. Flights were temporarily disrupted at some airports, while emergency services worked to contain fires and assess damage to infrastructure.

President Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had targeted military logistics facilities, an oil depot in the Moscow region and assets linked to Russia’s supply network. Ukrainian officials said the operation formed part of a broader strategy to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain its military campaign by striking fuel storage sites and logistics centres deep inside Russian territory.

The drone offensive followed one of Russia’s heaviest missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent days. Russian forces have intensified their use of ballistic missiles and long-range drones, striking residential areas, ports and critical infrastructure across Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say the latest attacks underscore the country’s urgent need for additional Western air-defence systems.

The latest escalation comes as Zelenskyy confronts growing political turbulence at home. Demonstrations have erupted in Kyiv after his administration’s reshuffle of senior defence officials, with critics questioning the timing of leadership changes during a crucial phase of the war. Protesters have also voiced concerns over tensions between military commanders and government officials, prompting the president to hold consultations aimed at easing divisions within Ukraine’s leadership.

Analysts say the simultaneous military escalation and domestic unrest present one of the most challenging periods of Zelenskyy’s presidency. While Ukraine continues to demonstrate increasingly sophisticated long-range strike capabilities against Russian territory, maintaining political unity and public confidence has become an equally important front in the country’s defence against Moscow’s invasion.

Military observers note that both sides have significantly expanded their use of drones over the past year, transforming the conflict into one increasingly defined by long-range precision strikes on energy facilities, logistics networks and industrial infrastructure. With no sign of diplomatic progress, the exchange of increasingly sophisticated drone and missile attacks suggests the war is entering another phase of escalation, raising concerns about further civilian casualties and regional instability.