Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Russia says 600 drones hit Moscow as cross-border strikes escalate
Russia and Ukraine are in a war that has lasted for several years.
On Sunday, they attacked each other from far away using missiles and drones.
Russia sent missiles and drones to Ukraine, where one woman died and six people were hurt in Kryvyi Rih, the city where Ukraine's president grew up.
Two factories there were damaged.
Russia also fired a missile at Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, early in the morning, hurting one person and starting fires in two neighborhoods.
At the same time, Russia said many drones flew toward Moscow, its own capital.
Russia's mayor first said more than 130 drones came, and later said the number was 600.
Russia said it shot down many of them, but three people in Moscow were still hurt, and three people were killed in the nearby Rostov region.
When drones and missiles are shot down, the falling pieces can still start fires and hurt people.
That is why big cities far from the fighting are in danger too.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 600 drones flew toward the Moscow region overnight until 6:30 am, with 201 destroyed over the region and three people wounded.
Russian strikes killed a woman in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, where six people were injured and two industrial sites were hit.
Kyiv came under a ballistic missile attack shortly before 2 am local time, injuring one person and causing fires in the Obolonsky and Holosiivskyi districts.
Three people were killed and one hospitalized in Russia's southern Rostov region, which borders Ukraine, during the overnight assault.
The articles give conflicting figures for the Moscow assault — more than 130 drones versus the later figure of 600 — and Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk was also targeted.
- Who
- Russian and Ukrainian forces, with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Rostov region governor Yuri Sliusar reporting on the attacks.
- What
- An overnight exchange of long-range strikes: Russian missiles and drones hit Ukraine (killing at least one person), while a major drone assault targeted Moscow and the Rostov region.
- When
- Sunday, with the Moscow drone assault running from yesterday evening until 6:30 am and Kyiv struck shortly before 2 am local time.
- Where
- Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv and Kremenchuk in Ukraine; Moscow and the southern Rostov region in Russia.
- Why
- Ukraine says its drone operations deep inside Russia are a response to Russia's continued strikes on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, as both sides escalate long-range attacks.
Ukraine's perspective
Russia's perspective
Long-range strikes on cities
Ukraine's perspective
Ukraine argues its drone attacks deep inside Russia are a response to Russia's continued strikes on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
Russia's perspective
Russia continues to launch missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, and presents Ukrainian drone incursions as assaults on its territory, reporting the interception of hundreds of drones and local casualties.
- Drones reportedly aimed at Moscow region
- 600 (201 destroyed over the region; earlier reports said more than 130)
- Wounded in Moscow
- 3 people
- Killed in Ukraine
- At least 1 (a woman in Kryvyi Rih)
- Injured in Ukraine
- 6 in Kryvyi Rih and 1 in Kyiv
- Killed in Rostov region
- 3 people, with 1 hospitalized
- Time of Kyiv missile strike
- Shortly before 2:00 am local time
- Ukrainian cities targeted
- Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, Kremenchuk
- Kyiv districts with fires
- Obolonsky (north) and Holosiivskyi (south)
