Ukraine Fires Nearly 1,200 Drones at Russia in One of War’s Biggest Attacks
Ukraine fired almost 1,200 drones at targets across Russia overnight, in one of the largest aerial attacks since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began nearly five years ago.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 1,198 long-range drones between late on Thursday and early on Friday. The figure is Moscow’s own account and has not been independently verified, and Kyiv has not confirmed how many drones it launched. The barrage came as United States-led talks to end the war widened to include broader European security arrangements, according to the Associated Press.
A night of waves over Russia
The drones came in waves through the night of Thursday, 12 November, into Friday, 13 November. Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said 467 drones headed towards the Moscow region, and air defences dealt with 144 more as they approached the capital. All four of Moscow’s airports restricted flights during the night, and the restrictions were lifted by morning.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the claimed interceptions covered 16 Russian regions, as well as the Moscow region, occupied Crimea and the Black Sea, between 8pm on Thursday and 8am on Friday, Moscow time.
Volgograd refinery ablaze
Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces hit an oil refinery in the Russian city of Volgograd, starting a fire. Two Ukrainian drone units, the 1st Separate Unmanned Systems Center and the 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade, confirmed the operation.
The regional governor, Andrei Bocharov, said four employees of the industrial zone were killed and two were injured. Reuters reported the toll as the deadliest attack on the city so far. Residents queued at petrol stations across Volgograd after the fire.
The facility is the Lukoil-owned Volgograd refinery, one of Russia’s ten largest and the biggest producer of petroleum products in southern Russia. Ukraine said the plant accounted for about 5.6 per cent of Russia’s total refining capacity. Reuters reported that the attack suspended crude processing and shut down several major units. It was the thirteenth attack on the facility since the full-scale invasion began, according to Meduza.
Ukraine claimed last month that its campaign against Russian refineries had neutralised more than half of the country’s refining capacity.
Civilians killed on both sides
Strikes that got through killed seven people in three Russian regions, including a 12-year-old, and wounded 17, local officials said. Four of the dead were the workers at the Volgograd industrial site.
Russia answered with 117 drones against Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people, including a 17-year-old, the authorities said. A single Russian attack on Friday on southern Zaporizhzhia hit two five-storey apartment blocks and wounded 30 people, including six children.
Russian attacks on energy infrastructure caused power outages across about half of Ukraine’s regions on Friday, the Energy Ministry said.
Strikes land as talks widen
The escalation came in the same week that American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, then briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dublin. The two sides have also agreed their largest prisoner swap since the invasion began, after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi.
European nations are now due to be included in the next round of talks, a change that has alarmed some European leaders even as it widens the agenda beyond a ceasefire. For now, the fighting is intensifying on both sides while the diplomacy continues, with neither side showing signs of easing its long-range campaign.
Frequently asked questions
How many drones did Ukraine fire at Russia?
Almost 1,200, according to the Associated Press. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 1,198 long-range drones. Kyiv has not confirmed a total.
What was hit in Volgograd?
The Lukoil oil refinery, one of Russia’s ten largest. The strike started a fire, suspended crude processing and killed four workers, according to the regional governor.
How many people were killed?
Seven people were killed in three Russian regions, including a 12-year-old, and 17 were wounded, local officials said. At least two people were killed in Ukraine, including a 17-year-old.
What is happening with the peace talks?
United States-led talks are continuing, with European security now on the agenda and European nations due to join the next round. No breakthrough has been announced.
