On the night of July 18, Russian territory was subjected to a massive drone attack. According to official data, the strikes hit the territory of nearly two dozen regions, making it one of the geographically widest attacks in recent times.
Statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense of Russia reported that air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 379 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones. The department claims that the air defense system successfully handled the threat, preventing mass strikes on critical infrastructure.
However, the actual picture of events, emerging from governors' reports and Kyiv's confirmations, indicates that some drones broke through the defense and reached their targets.
Strikes on the Moscow Region and other regions
Despite reports of successful air defense operations, explosions were recorded in several federal subjects on the night of July 18. In the Moscow Region, an oil depot in Noginsk was hit. There were also reports of explosions in Tver and Vladimir.
Particular attention was drawn to a hit on a logistics facility in Elektrostal. The Governor of the Moscow Region, Andrey Vorobyov, confirmed that during the attack, a Wildberries marketplace train was struck. The incident occurred as regional authorities attempted to minimize damage from the strikes.
Confirmation from Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the successful completion of tasks during the night operation. According to him, Ukrainian drones struck two important logistics facilities in the Moscow and Tambov regions. This confirms that the attack had specific targets aimed at disrupting supply chains.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy noted that an oil facility was struck, creating risks for the energy sector. Ukrainian forces also conducted strikes on targets in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas, as well as in temporarily occupied Crimea.
Results of the night operation
The events of the night of July 18 showed that Ukrainian drones are capable of overcoming the air defense system and striking strategically important objects. The attack affected not only Moscow and the region, but also other regions, including Tambov, Tver, and Vladimir.
Confirmation of hits on logistics and oil facilities indicates that Ukraine continues to increase the intensity of strikes on the enemy's rear, using drones for targeted attacks on infrastructure.
