Ukraine launches massive drone strike as Russia attacks Kharkiv and Sumy

Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 158 Ukrainian drones overnight from Friday to Saturday, including two over Moscow and nine over the surrounding region, the Defense Ministry reported on Sunday.

Forty-six of the drones were over the Kursk region, where Ukraine has sent troops in recent weeks in the largest incursion on Russian soil since World War II. Another 34 were fired over the Bryansk region, 28 over the Voronezh region and 14 over the Belgorod region — all of which border Ukraine.

Drones were also shot down deeper inside Russia, including one in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow, and one in the Ivanovo region, northeast of the Russian capital. Russia’s Defense Ministry said drones were intercepted in 15 regions, while another governor said a drone was also shot down over his region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said falling debris from one of two drones shot down over the city caused a fire at an oil refinery.

Ukrainian drone strikes have taken the fight far from the front lines into the heart of Russia. Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has stepped up airstrikes on Russian soil, targeting refineries and oil terminals in a bid to slow the Kremlin’s onslaught.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Sunday it had taken control of the towns of Pivnichne and Vyimka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claim.

Russian forces have pushed deeper into the partially occupied eastern territory, the complete conquest of which is one of the Kremlin’s main ambitions. The Russian army is approaching Pokrovsk, a crucial logistical hub for Ukraine’s defense in the area.

Eight of 11 drones launched by Russia were shot down in Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

One person was killed and four wounded in overnight shelling in the Sumy region, local officials said, while Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said five people were wounded in his region. Another 28 were wounded on Sunday when Russia shelled the regional capital, also called Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

According to Syniehubov, a shopping center, a sports facility and residential buildings were among those damaged in Sunday’s attack.

WATCH | What could happen now as Ukraine looks to take more Russian territory:

Ukraine Marched Into Russia. Why Can’t Russia Stop Them? | About That

Ukraine looks set to seize more Russian territory after it unexpectedly launched an attack on the country’s Kursk region. Andrew Chang analyzes three key challenges facing Vladimir Putin and how Russia’s response could influence how other countries respond.