Ukraine unleashed the largest attack ever targeting areas across Russia's Moscow region, and Russia launched ballistic missiles at locations across Ukraine in a sweeping retaliation. Dozens of casualties were reported as a result.
According to AFP and others on the 16th local time, at least 12 people were killed and many were injured in overnight clashes between Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that Podolsk, where Wildberries (a Russian online shopping mall) has a logistics warehouse, was hit by Ukraine's attack, leaving an 83-year-old man dead and many injured.
He said a logistics warehouse in the Domodedovo area, adjacent to one of Moscow's main airports, and several other facilities were also damaged. Video was shared showing smoke rising from the scene of the strike on the Wildberries Kolisheyno logistics warehouse.
Earlier, Ukraine said Wildberries was distributing military supplies and, over the past few weeks, has targeted the company for attacks.
The Ministry of National Defense of Russia said it shot down 822 Ukrainian drones across the country. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that more than 600 of them were aimed at Moscow.
Because of Ukraine's attack, five people were reported dead in a residential area of Rostov region in southern Russia, and one person was killed in Belgorod region.
Russia carried out a broad retaliation with drones, bombs and missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "Overnight, six people were injured in Kyiv and the surrounding area due to Russia's attack, and emergency restoration is underway."
Ukraine came under ballistic missile attacks in the Kremenchuk and Kryvyi Rih areas, leaving two people dead and 14 injured. Kryvyi Rih is Zelensky's hometown and home to the ArcelorMittal steel plant.
In addition, one person was reported dead in the Sumy area due to Russia's attack, and two people were reported dead in Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast.
Zelensky said, "Just this week, 13 regions have been attacked," adding, "The enemy fired more than 1,550 attack drones and 1,560 guided bombs, and launched 62 missiles at our cities."
Zelensky, who previously claimed that Ukraine was being attacked with North Korean ballistic missiles, again mentioned North Korean ballistic missiles on this day and asked European countries for air defense support.