Russia claims Ukrainian drones targeted refinery, power plants in Moscow, other regions in a mass attack

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Dozens of drones reportedly targeted several Russian regions overnight on Sept. 1, including Moscow, Tver, Voronezh, Tula, Kaluga, Bryansk, Belgorod, Lipetsk, and Kursk, according to local officials.

The Baza Telegram news channel, which is closely associated with Russia's security services, reported that loud explosions were heard near the Konakovo Power Station in the Tver region, one of the largest energy producers in central Russia.

At least three drones reportedly targeted the Kashira Power Plant in the Moscow region, according to Mikhail Shuvalov, the head of the Kashira city district. He said that the attack did not result in any fires, damage, or casualties.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these claims.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that at least 10 drones were downed in Russia's capital region. One of the drones was reportedly destroyed near the Moscow Oil Refinery, according to Sobyanin. He said that there was no damage or threat to the refinery's production process.

The refinery, owned by Gazprom Neft, the oil division of Russian gas giant Gazprom, is located in southeastern Moscow. No damage to civilian infrastructure or casualties were reported.

Additionally, some 27 drones were shot down over the Bryansk region in southwestern Russia, the region’s governor, Alexander Bogomaz said via his official Telegram channel.  

More than 10 drones were destroyed over the Voronezh region and several more were downed over Lipetsk, Kaluga, Ryazan and Tula regions, governors of the regions said in posts on Telegram.

Two more were also downed in the Kursk region, which has been partially controlled by Ukraine, said the region's acting governor, Aleksei Smirnov.

As Kyiv's incursion into Kursk Oblast enters its fourth week, Ukraine reportedly controls over 1,290 square kilometers (500 square miles) and 100 settlements, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Aug. 27.

Officials said that there were no reported injuries or damage according to preliminary information.

In Belgorod Oblast, several houses, cars, and commercial properties were damaged after repelling an aerial attack, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Russian forces “wiping out” Kursk Oblast’s Sudzha with bombs, Ukrainian general says

“They (Russian forces) are destroying their own people. Despite the fact that Sudzha is in the rear, the Russians are wiping it off the face of the earth,” Ukraine’s Ground Forces commander Oleksandr Pavliuk said.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova