Moscow region hit by drone swarm as civilian casualties rise amid escalated strikes

Russian authorities reported that 620 drones targeted the Moscow region overnight, resulting in injuries to several civilians and damage to residential and commercial properties. The incident underscores a significant escalation in long-distance strikes between Kyiv and Moscow, with civilian casualties reaching levels not seen since the initial months of the conflict in 2022.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that air defence units intercepted more than 180 of the drones over the capital region. Speaking on the state-backed MAX platform, Sobyanin confirmed that electronic warfare and air defence forces were actively repelling the large-scale attack throughout the night and into the morning.

Moscow region Governor Andrey Vorobyov confirmed that three people were wounded, including a 10-year-old girl. Vorobyov identified the Pavlovsky Posad district as the area suffering the most serious consequences, where a house burned down following the drone strikes.

A warehouse belonging to e-commerce giant Wildberries, located east of Moscow, also sustained damage. The company stated in a release that its logistics complex suffered minor damage after debris from the attack hit the building's wall.

Ukraine has previously targeted multiple Wildberries warehouses, alleging the online retailer supplies components for Russian drones. The company, often described as Russia’s equivalent to Amazon, has seen several of its largest logistics centres disabled in recent weeks amid the broader conflict.

With frontline fighting at a near standstill and diplomatic talks frozen, both sides have significantly stepped up long-distance attacks. The overnight incident in the Moscow region reflects the widening scope of the war, extending the impact of hostilities further into Russian civilian infrastructure.