Moscow: Black smoke and flames billowed from a Moscow oil refinery on Thursday after Ukraine targeted it for the second time this week. After videos of the attack went viral on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack was an “appropriate response” to recent Russian attacks on Kiev. This attack by Ukraine is in response to the recent air strikes conducted by Russia in Kiev. According to Ukrainian officials, the Russian attack – which targeted several cities, including the capital – was one of the most devastating air attacks on Kiev’s cultural and civilian infrastructure in months.
Zelensky tweeted
Let us tell you that earlier this week, at least 11 people were killed in a missile and drone attack on the Dormition Cathedral, part of the UNESCO-listed Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex. “This is a completely justified response to Russian attacks on our cities and communities, and another important result of the actions of our warriors against the facilities that maintain Russia’s war machine,” Zelensky said on X.
Zelensky further said that now is the time to end the war with Russia and appealed to Putin to adopt the path of dialogue and diplomacy. He acknowledged the attack, which is considered to be Ukraine’s biggest attack since ‘Operation Spider’s Web’.
Flights stopped due to attack on Russia
Russian officials said at least 555 Ukrainian drones were shot down in several areas and about 200 drones headed toward Moscow were intercepted. In addition, Russia’s Transport Ministry announced that all flights from all Moscow airports – Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky – were halted until further notice.
Attack a few hours before Putin’s meeting
According to reports, this Ukrainian drone attack took place at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to host ASEAN leaders in the city of Kazan. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore sent their prime ministers to the meeting, while the Philippines sent President Ferdinand Marcos.
At a formal reception for ASEAN heads of state on Wednesday night, Putin said Russia and ASEAN countries “are in favor of jointly building a just world order, safeguarding the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs.” The two-day summit in Kazan comes as Russia tries to boost economic stability and regional ties amid its four-year war with Ukraine.
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