It all started last night, when the first drones were spotted near the Russian capital. The Russian aviation agency (Rosaviatsia) responded by imposing temporary flight restrictions at Moscow's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin later claimed that air defenses managed to shoot down several of the aircraft.
Yaroslavl refinery on fire, detonations in Rostov
However, while all eyes were on Moscow, powerful explosions were heard in Yaroslavl. According to information from the Telegram channel and the Russian media Astra, the target of the attack was the Yaroslavnefteorgsintez oil refinery. A serious fire broke out in the area of the plant, and videos quickly spread online showing thick, black smoke billowing high above the refinery.
Rostov-on-Don was also attacked. Initial reports from the field indicate a possible rocket attack on the Agropromzapchast factory. Residents say they heard a series of loud explosions, followed by a large fire at the scene.
Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar later said the region had “repulsed the drone and missile attacks.” While he said there were no deaths or injuries, he acknowledged that there had been damage. “Fragments from downed aircraft damaged facilities in Taganrog, Bataysk and Rostov-on-Don, as well as in the Myasnikov district,” Slyusar said.
Russians claim to have shot down 264 drones
Mayor Sobyanin updated his report this morning, stating that 26 drones were intercepted overnight on the approaches to Moscow alone. On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defense came out with a rather incredible figure – they claim that a total of 264 drones were shot down over Russian regions.
This massive attack did not come out of the blue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday that Ukraine would respond in kind to Russia's violation of the ceasefire. Zelensky recalled that on May 4, Kiev announced a ceasefire that was supposed to come into effect on May 6 at midnight. However, Moscow did not even respond to this proposal, but continued with combat operations and strikes on Ukraine.
Instead of an agreement, the Russian Defense Ministry unilaterally declared a “truce” for May 8 and 9 only, with a chilling warning: if the traditional Victory Day military parade in Moscow is “disrupted” in any way, Moscow will launch a massive missile strike on the very center of Kiev. Kiev does not seem to have taken these threats seriously, as Russian energy and industrial facilities burned from Yaroslavl to Rostov last night.
