Ukraine strikes Russian satellite communications hub near Moscow again; Russia downs 419 drones

Ukraine's forces have struck Russia's satellite communications center in Dubna, in the Moscow region, for the second time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday. He described the attack as part of Kyiv's ongoing campaign to target strategic military infrastructure deep inside Russia.In a post on X, Zelenskyy said the latest strike targeted a "special satellite communications facility" used for intelligence gathering and coordinating Russia's occupation forces in Ukraine."Today, our long-range sanctions against Russia for this war once again reached the Dubna space communications center in the Moscow region. This is a special satellite communications facility used, in particular, for reconnaissance and for coordinating the activity of Russia’s occupation contingent in Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.He added that the facility is located more than 500 kilometers from Ukraine's border and noted that Ukrainian forces had previously targeted similar installations."The distance from our state border to this facility is more than 500 kilometers. Recently, our Defense Forces of Ukraine already reached four such Russian centers, not only in the Moscow region but also in the Vladimir region. Step by step, we are implementing our plan of long-range sanctions and making it as difficult as possible for the aggressor state to carry out its invasion operations against Ukraine and the occupation of our territories. Relevant actions are also being prepared against other similar enemy facilities," Zelenskyy added.The Dubna and Vladimir space communication centers were earlier hit last week by Ukrainian forces. Kyiv has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russia in recent months as Moscow's full-scale offensive in Ukraine approaches the four-and-a-half-year mark.The strikes have largely focused on Russian energy infrastructure, aiming to disrupt a key source of revenue that the Kremlin uses to finance its war effort.The war between Russia and Ukraine continued on multiple fronts. Russia said on Tuesday that it shot down 419 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight, including in the Moscow region, where authorities said a six-month-old baby was killed.Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said drones struck the village of Yevgoryevsk, southwest of Moscow, hitting a "private house."Two adults and another child were hospitalised, he added.The latest wave of attacks came just days after Russia said it had intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones between Thursday and Friday, one of the highest reported totals since the conflict began.Catch the latest world news and top headlines. Download the TOI App.