Ukraine drones strike numerous targets on outskirts of Moscow

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s threat to strike back has been enacted with one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia since the 2022 invasion.

Ukraine has launched one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia since the 2022 invasion, striking targets near Moscow.

Andrey Vorobyov, the Moscow regional governor, posted photographs on social media of firefighters tackling blazing wooden homes in Chekhov, a town 20 miles (32 kilometres) from the capital city.

Videos online suggest the scientific and manufacturing hub of Zelenograd, 30 miles (48 kilometres) from Moscow, was also hit.

Local media reported that a train nearby was damaged by a downed drone.

A factory that produces drones in Dubna, 60 miles (96 kilometres) north of Moscow, was said to have been hit. No casualties were reported.

This drone strikes come a fortnight after similar Russian strikes in Kyiv. Picture: Ukrainian State Emergency Service/AFP

President Zelensky had vowed to step up attacks on Russia after President Putin launched Russia’s biggest drone attacks of the war at the weekend, killing at least 18 people.

The Russian defence ministry said 296 Ukrainian drones had been shot down.

Vorobyov said at least 42 were destroyed over the Moscow region.

Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, said more than 30 drones were brought down by Russian air defences as they flew towards the capital.

Officials said drones were downed in a dozen other regions near Moscow or close to the border with Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia must suffer consequences for its actions against Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

Hours before the barrage, Zelensky said in his evening address: “In Russia, they must clearly feel the consequences of what they are doing against Ukraine.

“And this will happen. Attack drones, interceptors, cruise missiles, Ukrainian ballistic missiles – these are the key elements. We must produce everything [in Ukraine].”

Zelensky also proposed a three-way meeting with Putin and President Trump.

He said: “If Putin is not comfortable with a bilateral meeting, or if everyone wants it to be a trilateral meeting, I don’t mind. I am ready.”

He also urged western countries to increase sanctions on Russia and said he hoped the war would be over by the summer of next year.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says more than 30 drones were brought down by Russian air defences. Picture: AFP

There are few signs, however, that Putin is prepared to end it without Kyiv’s capitulation.

After a phone call with Trump last week, Putin said he had agreed to work with Ukraine on a memorandum for a peace accord.

Moscow has yet to suggest a timeline, however.

Putin wants guarantees that Ukraine will never be accepted into NATO, as well as limits on the size of its future armed forces and for the surrender of five regions, including towns and cities that Russian forces do not control.

Ukraine has rejected all these demands.

THE TIMES