With the eyes of the world on the Middle East the war in Ukraine has entered a dangerous new phase as both sides try to break the dead lock
Black smoke rises over Moscow after the strikes (Image: Getty)
Moscow was left reeling after Ukraine hit the Russian capital with the biggest attack of the war so far.
Vladimir Putin’s much-touted air defenses failed to protect the city from the Ukrainian drone swarm, leaving it surrounded in apocalyptic, noxious black smoke.
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The Moscow Oil Refinery at Kapotnya - one of the biggest in Russia and partially damaged in an attack earlier this week - was repeatedly hit with massive explosions and the smoke turning the sky black.
“This is pure hell, I’ve never felt such terror,” said one Muscovite as the city faced the kind of carnage Putin has regularly inflicted on Kyiv.
It comes after the roof of the Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv was hit by a drone attack (Image: Getty)
Another demanded: “Why won’t this madman stop his crazy and pointless war and end the death and destruction?”
A massive security blanket was thrown around the Kremlin with Red Square sealed off, and machine-gunners on the towers and ramparts as well as Lenin’s Mausoleum.
Electronic warfare and air defense missiles shot down multiple incoming drones - redirecting several to hit residential buildings, shattering glass, and igniting fires.
Moscow residents were forced to cower in underground car parks amid the Ukrainian onslaught.
One of Moscow's largest shopping centers, Sadovod, was burning after a hit.
The city’s main airports suspended all flights and the main ring road had restricted traffic in both directions.
A grim black cloud hangs over Moscow (Image: Getty)
Russian air defenses claimed to have shot down 555 Ukrainian drones overnight — but enough An-196 Liutyi and FP-1 unmanned planes reached targets to inflict mayhem on the Russian capital.
In another bitter blow to Putin who is hosting leaders from the 10-member ASEAN bloc in Kazan, Ukraine also hit multiple road and rail bridges restricting access and supply routes to the Crimean Peninsula - the “jewel” of his invaded territories.
The pinpoint attacks mean Russia’s control of the invaded Black Sea tourist paradise is now being severely tested.
A giant explosion rocked a bridge over the North Crimean Canal near the village of Razdolnoye.
“Essentially, Crimea is being isolated by drones,” said Ukraine’s defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
“In the near future, it seems that Crimea will turn into an island, and this could lead to very unexpected consequences for the Russians.”
“Moscow was subjected to the largest drone attack since the beginning of the war,” reported independent outlet Agentsvo.
The city’s main oil refinery supplies 40% of the fuel market in Moscow and 70% of the surrounding region's needs for gasoline and aviation fuel.
An oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region was also ablaze, in a strike that killed one person.
The onslaught reinforced how Ukraine has turned around the war, inflicting a succession of major setbacks on Putin, who is also failing to gain significant frontline territory while losing ground in several sectors.
Volodymyr Zelensky has said the war could stop if Putin engages in genuine peace talks, but the Russian dictator repeatedly refuses to do so.
In revenge attacks, Russia hit Ukrainian oil facilities in Poltava region, and close to Kyiv.
Russia was spotted moving Tu-95MS strategic bombers across the country, suggesting a major strike on Ukraine is likely in the coming days.