Ukraine Fires Nearly 1,200 Drones at Russia in One of War's Biggest Attacks

Ukraine fired almost 1,200 drones at targets across Russia overnight, in one of the largest aerial attacks of the war, as Russia answered with strikes that killed civilians on both sides and knocked out power across about half of Ukraine. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down 1,198 long-range Ukrainian drones, 467 of them headed for the Moscow region, while the strikes that got through killed seven people in Russia, among them a 12-year-old, and wounded 17.

The first reports on Thursday night put the Moscow-bound figure at just over 100 drones, with flights grounded at all four of the capital's airports. The Defence Ministry's fuller tally, published on Friday, put the total at nearly 1,200 across Russia.

Key Points

• Russia's Defence Ministry said 1,198 long-range Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight on November 12-13, with 467 headed toward the Moscow region.
• Strikes that got through killed seven people in three Russian regions, including a 12-year-old, and wounded 17.
• Ukraine's General Staff said it hit an oil refinery in Volgograd, setting it ablaze, and claims it has neutralised more than half of Russia's refining capacity.
• Russia launched 117 drones at Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people including a 17-year-old; a Friday strike on Zaporizhzhia wounded 30, including six children.
• Russian attacks on energy infrastructure caused power outages across about half of Ukraine's regions on Friday, the Energy Ministry said.

What Happened

The drones came in waves through the night of Thursday, November 12, into Friday, November 13. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air-defence units were intercepting aircraft bound for the capital from late Thursday evening, and the Defence Ministry later said 467 of the drones were headed for the Moscow region. Restrictions were imposed at the capital's airports, and reports said all four were grounded or restricted.

Elsewhere, the strikes that got through did damage: local officials said seven people were killed and 17 wounded in three Russian regions, including four dead and two wounded in the Volgograd region. Ukraine's General Staff said it hit an oil refinery in Volgograd, setting it ablaze; the plant holds about 110 million barrels a year, and Kyiv claims its campaign has neutralised more than half of Russia's refining capacity.

Russia's answer came within hours: 117 drones at Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people, including a 17-year-old. Then, on Friday, a single Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia struck two five-storey apartment blocks and wounded 30 people, including six children. Russian attacks on energy infrastructure also caused widespread power outages across about half of Ukraine's regions on Friday, according to First Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov.

Background and Context

Ukraine has spent months striking Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure with long-range drones, aiming to cut the fuel and revenue sustaining Moscow's war effort. Kyiv says the campaign has taken out more than half of Russia's refining capacity — a claim Moscow disputes.

The attack came as diplomacy gathered pace: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, a day after trilateral talks ended in Abu Dhabi, then briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dublin. The envoys' Moscow meeting had raised hopes of a settlement; the overnight strikes show the fighting continues at full intensity while the diplomats talk.

Ukraine Drone Attack on Russia Reaches a New Scale

The numbers are the story. Even allowing for the fact that Russia reports only the drones it says it intercepted, a claimed tally of 1,198 shoot-downs — 467 aimed at the Moscow region alone — points to a Ukrainian drone operation far bigger than recent waves.

For Moscow, the night strained air defences and exposed vulnerability: hundreds of drones force Russia to spend scarce interceptor missiles and crews on the capital, and a burning refinery in Volgograd hits the fuel and export revenue funding the war. For Kyiv, the cost was immediate — civilians killed and about half the country's regions without power on Friday, in an energy war that brought several winters of blackouts.

Reactions and Quotes

In parallel, US and Russian negotiators widened the peace talks to cover European security arrangements, alarming European leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: "Russia wants to talk about questions of European security architecture. We don't need to talk about that. There is one." The EU's Kaja Kallas warned against "the traps that Russia is setting".

In Ukraine, the Energy Ministry was blunt: attacks on energy infrastructure had caused widespread outages across about half of the country's regions on Friday, hitting civilians far from the front, in homes and hospitals, not just on the battlefield.

Why It Matters

The attack matters because it shows Ukraine can still hit Moscow and Russia's oil heartland even as peace talks gather pace. A swarm of nearly 1,200 drones forces Russia to spend scarce air-defence missiles and crews on the capital, and a burning refinery hits the fuel and export revenue funding it.

It also matters for the civilians caught in the middle. Seven dead in Russia, including a child, two dead in Ukraine, including a teenager, and 30 wounded in Zaporizhzhia show the drone war is no longer a contest of machines alone. With about half of Ukraine's regions losing power on Friday, the energy war is heading into winter, when blackouts bite hardest.

And it matters for the diplomacy. The strikes landed hours after Witkoff and Kushner sat with Putin and briefed Zelenskyy, as the talks widened to European security. Kyiv argues battlefield pressure strengthens its hand; Moscow argues it shows Ukraine is not serious about peace.

What Happens Next

Watch for Russia's response in the coming nights: Moscow often answers Ukrainian strikes with its own overnight attacks on Ukrainian cities, and Friday's Zaporizhzhia strike and the power outages may be only the start.

Watch, too, for the diplomats. The next round of talks is expected to include European representatives, after Putin agreed to let them join, and the prisoner exchange the envoys are working on is due in the coming weeks. Whether diplomacy can survive nights like this one is the test ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many drones did Ukraine fire at Russia?
Russia's Defence Ministry said air defences shot down 1,198 long-range Ukrainian drones overnight on November 12-13, including 467 headed for the Moscow region. Kyiv has not confirmed the total.

How many people were killed?
Seven people were killed in Russia, including a 12-year-old, and 17 wounded. In Ukraine, at least two were killed overnight, including a 17-year-old, and 30 were wounded in Friday's Zaporizhzhia strike.

What happened at the Volgograd refinery?
Ukraine's General Staff said it hit the refinery and set it ablaze. The plant holds about 110 million barrels a year, and Kyiv claims it has neutralised more than half of Russia's refining capacity.

How much of Ukraine lost power?
Russian attacks on energy infrastructure caused widespread outages across about half of Ukraine's regions on Friday, according to First Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov.

What is happening with the peace talks?
US and Russian negotiators have widened the talks to cover European security arrangements. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there is already a European security architecture, and the EU's Kaja Kallas warned against Russia's "traps".