In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, both sides launched intensive drone attacks on each other's capitals over the weekend. Russian authorities claimed that Ukraine attempted to attack Moscow with dozens of drones, just a day after Russia launched its most intense drone attack on Kyiv since the beginning of the war in 2022. Russian air defenses successfully brought down at least 24 drones over the Moscow region and four other provinces to the south and west, according to the Russian Defense Ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

Russia on Saturday launched its largest drone attack against Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv since the start of the war.

75 Iranian-made drones were launched toward Kyiv from two directions. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 71 of them

We will always stand with Ukraine. 🇺🇸🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/U8BR3JHyOu

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No casualties were reported, but three buildings in the Moscow region were damaged. In the western city of Tula, a drone crashed into a 12-story apartment block, injuring one resident. As a result of the drone attack on Moscow, Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports briefly shut down. Fortunately, both airports resumed normal operation shortly after. Russian Telegram channels speculated that Ukraine had deployed a previously unseen type of drone, similar to the Iranian-made weapons regularly used by Russia in its attacks on Ukraine. In response to the drone attack on Moscow, Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with over 60 Iranian-made Shahed drones.

The assault, described as the most massive air attack by drones in the war so far, resulted in at least five civilians being wounded and several buildings, including a kindergarten, damaged. Ukrainian air defenses successfully shot down eight of the nine drones fired by Russian forces. The attack on Kyiv took place on Holodomor Memorial Day, which commemorates the man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine that killed millions of Ukrainians from 1932 to 1933. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that throughout the morning, air defenses shot down 66 air targets over the Ukrainian capital and surrounding region.

Additionally, clashes intensified on the outskirts of Donetsk as Russian troops attempted to advance near the eastern town of Avdiivka, a Ukrainian stronghold and fighting hotspot. Ukrainian forces successfully beat back Russian assaults from various directions as Moscow's troops strained to encircle the city. The exchange of drone attacks further escalates the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with both sides continuing to inflict damage and casualties. The situation remains tense as Russian forces continue their advances and Ukrainian forces defend their territories.