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Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Shopping Center

Updated 8:05 AM ET · 7:21 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the MegaGRINN shopping and entertainment complex in the Russian city of Belgorod during a mass drone attack overnight on October 25, according to the Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+.

Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the MegaGRINN shopping and entertainment complex in the Russian city of Belgorod during a mass drone attack overnight on October 25, according to the Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+. The mall was closed and no visitors were inside at the time of the attack.

Exilenova+ identified the target as MegaGRINN, Belgorod’s largest shopping and entertainment complex, which covers about 163,000 square meters. The majority of the drones reportedly targeted one area in the city center, according to ASTRA.

Belgorod, a Russian city about 34 kilometers (21 miles) from Ukraine’s northeastern border and roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Kharkiv, was hit by a massive swarm of Ukrainian drones, according to local officials and eyewitness footage posted to social media.

Russian authorities reported that a civilian was killed and 10 people were injured in the broader mass drone attack on Belgorod. Zelenskyy’s warning that Russian airspace is becoming dangerous is proving true: Russia temporarily restricted operations at 27 airports amid the attack.

The attack on MegaGRINN is part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure. On August 21, a Russian drone attack on the crowded Soniachna Halereia mall in Kryvyi Rih killed 16 people and injured more than 120.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s recent attacks on data centers of Russian tech giant Yandex have lowered the number of Internet bots promoting pro-Kremlin hate, a claim that has been disputed by many technology researchers.

Russia’s defense and digital development ministries are discussing measures to protect data centers from drone attacks, state news agency TASS reported on October 12, citing Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev.

The Defense Forces also targeted airfields, industrial enterprises, oil refineries, a rocket and space center, and an ammunition depot in several Russian regions and in the Black Sea.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said “most” of the 493 Ukrainian drones flying toward the region were neutralized, 180 of them on direct approach to the capital.

Background

What's confirmed

• Belgorod is a Russian city about 34 kilometers (21 miles) from Ukraine’s northeastern border and roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Kharkiv.

What's still developing

• "We record a speed of more than 400 kilometers per hour, the connection is stable," the ministry said.
• “Operation to strike Russian targets deep in swamps continues”: Ukrainian Commander Madiar says his unit hits 7,306 Russian troops in first half of October, up 59% on August.
• “Moscow continues to believe it can use military force without facing consequences significant enough to change its behavior,” she said.
• "EVERY ONE of our partners has experienced this firsthand when they heard Russia's refusals. And it is crucial to call things what they are. To call the aggressor an aggressor and help Ukraine defend lives." 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events LONDON -- Russian missiles and drones targeted Ukraine overnight, striking civilian infrastructure along with energy facilities, knocking out power for some 550,000 families, Ukrainian officials said.
• "At present, political jealousy and narrow party interests have taken precedence over responsibility. Seeing a strong and professional candidate for the post of Minister of Defense, political talkers chose not a solution, but a crisis."
• People look at damaged office center after a Russian missile attack in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct.
• 8, Ukrainian drones struck another Yandex data center in Sasovo, Ryazan region, where servers host services used by the company and its clients.
• The company is one of Russia's largest e-commerce platforms and a major rival of Wildberries, often dubbed "Russia's Amazon." Aleksandr Drozdenko, governor of Leningrad Oblast, said 127 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the region.
• Ukrainian long-range drones struck a Russian Su-35 multirole fighter and a Su-34 fighter-bomber at the Khanskaya military airfield in Russia’s Republic of Adygea overnight on October 4, according to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).

Sources

• Euromaidan Presslink
• Kyivindependentlink
• Euromaidanpresslink
• Newsweeklink
• Abcnewslink
• DWlink
• Tribdemlink
• Kyivpostlink
• Rferllink
• Kyivindependentlink
• United24Medialink
• Themoscowtimeslink
• Newsukrainelink
• Therecordlink
• WarpBeat — background on Russia Has Up to 700 Ballistic Missiles, 6,200 Attack Drones Ready to Strike Ukraine, Intelligence Says link
• Times Now World — video link