Moscow Targeted by Drones While Russia Bombards Kyiv

Ukraine fired more than 400 drones toward Moscow on Sunday night and into Monday morning in one of its biggest attacks yet on the Russian capital. Moscow's mayor said most of the drones were shot down far from the city, but 85 were intercepted close to it. The attack came just hours after Russia launched ballistic missiles at Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, keeping up a back-and-forth cycle of strikes that has gone on for more than four years.

Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said the drone attack wounded 10 people and damaged several apartment buildings and other civilian sites. A fire broke out at an industrial park about 30 kilometres south of Moscow. An oil storage depot about 20 kilometres south of the city was also reported on fire after being hit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his forces struck supply facilities and an oil depot in the Moscow region. He also said Ukrainian forces hit two ships that Russia uses to secretly move oil it is not supposed to sell, plus four cargo ships in the Black Sea. These ships are part of what is called Russia's 'shadow fleet,' which tries to get around international trade rules.

In Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, a drone hit a passenger bus in the town of Shebekino. Five people were killed — four women and a boy — and 23 others were hurt. Neither side's claims could be checked independently by outside reporters.

Ukraine has gotten very good at making long-range drones during the war. Its forces have targeted Russian oil facilities, which has caused fuel shortages and put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. In May alone, Russia said it shot down more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones in just one day.

To fight back, Russia has started using more ballistic missiles. These missiles travel faster than the speed of sound and can reach Kyiv in just minutes. That gives Ukraine's air defenses very little time to react, and leaves civilians with almost no time to find shelter.

The Institute for the Study of War, a research group based in Washington, D.C., said Russia has already fired more ballistic missiles at Ukraine in July than it normally makes in an entire month. Ukraine's air force said Russia fired two missiles and 94 long-range drones overnight. Air defenses blocked or jammed 81 drones, but nine drones and one missile still caused damage in nine different places.

A cargo ship was also attacked in the Black Sea. The ship had just left the port of Odesa when it was hit by Russian forces on Sunday, killing 10 crew members including five sailors from Syria. Eight people were rescued, and the ship was carrying Ukrainian corn at the time.

Syria's government said it strongly condemns the attacks on ships carrying Syrian crew members in the Black Sea, though it did not name Russia directly. Russia has been building a new relationship with Syria's government since former leader Bashar Assad was removed from power in December 2024. The two countries have been growing closer since that change in leadership.

Back in Ukraine, President Zelenskyy is dealing with a political problem at home. He recently removed a popular 35-year-old official named Mykhailo Fedorov from his role as defence minister, which led to days of street protests. Zelenskyy said he planned to hold important talks Monday to calm the situation and show that his government remains united in the fight against Russia.