Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said heavy drone attacks on Russia were retaliation for a strike that damaged a historic monastery in Kyiv this week.
Mr Zelenskyy said “if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn” as attacks continue.
Scores of drones targeted Moscow overnight in what was Ukraine’s largest attack on the Russian capital, hitting an oil refinery for the second time this week.
“We don’t want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it,” Mr Zelenskyy said in a voice message to reporters on a WhatsApp group.
At least 10 people were killed on Monday across Ukraine in a drone and missile attack that damaged the 1,000-year-old Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery.
Ten people were killed in the attack on the monastery. (Reuters: Thomas Peter)
Zelenskyy pressures Putin
Mr Zelenskyy was due to attend a meeting of Ukraine’s military allies in Brussels on Thursday.
He said the supply of air defences to Ukraine through a NATO programme and the creation of an anti-ballistic missile system by Ukraine and its allies would be discussed at the meeting.
Mr Zelenskyy called on Europe and the United states to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions on Russia’s defence and energy sectors and broader economy to force President Vladimir Putin into ending the war.
“Everyone need to put pressure on Putin: Ukrainians, absolutely all the Europeans, Americans, and Russians — it’s time to sober up and put pressure on their leader,”
he said.
The Russian Defence Ministry said that its air defences overnight shot down 555 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions, with almost 200 intercepted as they were approaching Moscow.
That was roughly double the number of drones that Russia launched at Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Mr Zelenskyy said the Moscow attack was part of Ukraine’s efforts to force Mr Putin to the negotiating table.
Fires rage at Moscow refinery
Local video showed smoke and flames around the Moscow Oil Refinery, located about 15 kilometres from the Kremlin.
“One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is ‘What is going on?'” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X.
“I can answer. Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what’s going on, ask Mr Putin when he is planning to end it.”
Thick plumes of smoke were seen over Moscow after the Ukrainian drone attack. (Reuters: Social media)
The refinery is one of Russia’s biggest, according to its official website, and produces more than a third of the Moscow region’s fuel.
It was last attacked by Ukrainian drones on Tuesday, catching fire, but officials said the blaze was swiftly put out.
Flights from four Moscow airports were temporarily halted, transport and aviation authorities said.
In the greater Moscow region, a drone hit a residential building in the town of Zhukovsky, according to Governor Andrei Vorobyov.
Buildings elsewhere were damaged by drone debris, injuring 17 people, including two children, he added.
ABC/wires
