The night of September 12 brought one of the largest air attacks on the Russian territory since the beginning of the large -scale invasion in Ukraine. According to Moscow authorities and reports in the Russian press, Ukrainian drones targeted several regions, including the Russian capital and the Leningrad region.
Attack with Ukrainian drones in the Moscow/Photo region: X
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that no less than 221 Ukrainian drones were intercepted during the attack, held in several waves. The information was not verified independently until the time of publication.
Fires to petroleum facilities and strategic ports
In the Leningrad region, governor Alexander Drozdenko spoke about one of the largest air attacks since the beginning of the war. About 30 drones would have been shot down only here. Restances of the flight devices have fallen into several localities, including in Tosno, Vsevolojsk, Pokrovskoe and Usmino, without causing victims, according to local authorities.
Drozdenko has confirmed that a fire broke out at a ship in the Port of Primorsk – the largest Russian terminal for oil export to the Baltic Sea. The flames would have been extinguished without any other incidents, and officials claim that there is no danger of leaks or spills.
Subsequently, the authorities confirmed another fire, this time at a pumping station in the same area. And this incident would have been quickly controlled.
Highlights canceled at St. Petersburg. State of tension in the capital of Russia
The threat represented by Drone led to the closure of Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg, to a precaution that has become more and more frequent. Nearly 50 flights have been canceled or delayed.
The explosions were heard in several neighborhoods of the city, and Russian independent channels, such as Astra, reported on repeated detonation noises.
And in Moscow, the authorities confirmed the breaking of at least nine drones near the capital. Mayor Serghei Sobianin said that intervention teams had traveled to the impact site, without providing additional details.
On the social networks, the inhabitants of Mozhaisk and Dedovsk – localities located west of Moscow – reported explosions and intense movement of Russian troops.
Target targets targeted and in Smolensk
Another wave of drone also hit the Smolensk region, according to regional governor Vasili Anohin. He confirmed the intervention of the anti -aircraft defense systems, but did not provide information on possible damages or targets.
Instead, eyewitnesses posted pictures of a strong fire at a Lukoil facility, claiming that this was one of the targets of the attack. The flames were surprised in video recordings, but the authorities avoided confirming whether the oil infrastructure was affected.
Simultaneous attacks in over 10 regions
The Russian Defense Ministry has published a list of regions in which Drone would have been shot down:
-85 devices in the Briansk region
-42 in Smolensk
-28 in Leningrad
-18 in Kaluga
-14 in Novgorod
-9 in the Moscow and Oriol regions
Drone were also intercepted in Belgorod, Rostov, Tver, Pskov, Tula and Kursk.
On the Ukrainian side, there was no official comment on the attacks of the previous night.
Change of strategy: Ukraine brings war on Russia's territory
In recent months, Ukraine seems to have changed the strategy of using drones, relying on disturbing Russian military and oil infrastructure, but also on generating a psychological impact on the Russian population.
The attack comes just a few days after Russia has launched one of the most devastating attacks on Kiev, resulting in the death of a woman and her newborn child, as well as the injury of 20 other people. For the first time since the beginning of the invasion, the Ukrainian government building was affected by a direct attack.
Meanwhile, tensions are also amplified on NATO borders: on the night of September 10, Russian drones raped the air space of Poland, forcing the intervention of Polish air forces. The German press reports that the respective drones aimed at Rzeszow Airport, an essential logistics point for the military support granted to Ukraine.
