War

MOSCOW - Scores of Ukrainian drones bore ‌down on Moscow yesterday, hitting the Russian capital’s oil refinery for the second time this week in what Kyiv cast as a demonstration of its growing capabilities that should force Russia to accept a peace deal.

Russia, for its part, fired missiles into Kyiv, also for the second time this week, following an attack that damaged Kyiv’s landmark 1 000-year-old monastery and drew international condemnation.

In Moscow, Reuters saw flames and plumes of ​smoke over the densely populated southeastern district of Kapotnya where the refinery supplying the capital is located.

“Air defence forces continue to repel a massive attack. Several drones managed to ​reach the Moscow oil refinery,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, adding that a shopping centre also suffered minor damage.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said ⁠555 drones were shot down across the country. Sobyanin said 180 were shot down around Moscow alone. State news agency TASS said the attack on Moscow was one of ​the biggest this year.

Thick plumes of smoke with flames rise from an oil refinery following what the authorities say is a Ukrainian drone strike in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Moscow. (Pic: Reuters)