📰 Continuing coverage: Ukraine launches 600 drones in Russia’s biggest night attack

The attack happened just after dawn Sunday, when Ukraine launched at least 20 drones toward Russian territory, Russian officials said. Most were shot down by air defenses, but three reached residential areas near Moscow and one hit a town in the south. The strike killed three people in the Moscow region and one in the Belgorod area, local emergency services reported. Another twelve people were wounded, including several with serious injuries that required hospitalization.

Russian state news agencies TASS confirmed the strike was one of Ukraine’s most significant drone operations inside Russia in months. Debris from intercepted drones fell on the runways of Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia’s busiest hub. Airport authorities said flights continued normally because the debris didn’t damage infrastructure or disrupt operations.

Local governors in Moscow and Belgorod posted updates on social media warning residents to stay inside during the attack. Video footage shared by Russian media showed emergency vehicles rushing to the scene and residents sweeping up drone parts from streets. The attack came as Ukraine has increased long-range strikes deep into Russia, targeting military sites, energy facilities, and now civilian areas near major cities.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on the operation, but President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly vowed to strike back after waves of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Since April, Ukraine has launched several large drone raids into Russia, including one that hit an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region and another that damaged a military airbase near Pskov.

Russian authorities called the latest strike a deliberate escalation by Ukraine. Moscow’s mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defenses intercepted 17 drones but three slipped through, hitting civilian areas. He added that authorities are reviewing security measures at airports and critical infrastructure after the incident.

The timing of the attack—coming just days after Russia celebrated Victory Day on May 9—raises questions about whether Ukraine is trying to disrupt Russian morale or force Moscow to divert resources away from the front lines. Analysts say Ukraine’s drone program has expanded significantly in recent months, with drones now reaching as far as 1,000 kilometers into Russian territory. This attack suggests Ukraine is pushing the limits of its long-range capabilities while testing Russia’s air defenses.

Russia’s response so far has been limited to condemnation and calls for stronger security. The Kremlin has not announced any immediate retaliation, but analysts expect Moscow to tighten air defenses and possibly escalate its own strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure in the coming days.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: France 24
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 14:25 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #france24 · #world-news · #europe · #war · #ukraine · #russia

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Um ataque de drones ucraniano atingiu o coração da Rússia no domingo, matando quatro pessoas e ferindo outras doze em uma região próxima a Moscou, marcando a maior ofensiva do tipo desde o início da guerra. O episódio expôs a crescente capacidade de Kiev de levar a batalha para além das fronteiras do conflito, enquanto a capital russa, normalmente considerada um refúgio seguro, viu destroços caírem perto de seu aeroporto mais movimentado — ainda que sem causar danos estruturais.

O ataque ocorre em um momento de tensão crescente entre os dois países, com a Ucrânia intensificando suas operações de retaliação contra alvos militares e logísticos russos, mesmo diante dos riscos de escalada. Para o Brasil e os falantes de português, a notícia reforça a percepção de que o conflito na Europa não está estagnado e pode se expandir geograficamente, com potenciais reflexos na segurança global, inclusive em regiões distantes como a América Latina.

A Rússia prometeu retaliar, o que acende o alerta para uma nova onda de violência nos próximos dias.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Un ataque con drones ucraniano ha dejado este domingo cuatro muertos y una docena de heridos en la región de Moscú, en el mayor envite de este tipo registrado hasta ahora contra territorio ruso.

Este incidente refleja la escalada de la guerra con drones entre ambos países y subraya el riesgo de que el conflicto trascienda las fronteras, afectando incluso a infraestructuras críticas como el aeropuerto más transitado de Rusia. Para los hispanohablantes, el episodio recuerda la vulnerabilidad de las zonas urbanas en conflictos armados y plantea preguntas sobre el alcance de la asistencia occidental a Kiev, así como las posibles represalias rusas que podrían agravar la crisis regional.