Zelensky Claims Ukraine Launched Large-Scale Long-Range Attack on Moscow Region of Russia

Most recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian defense forces, the Ukrainian Security Service, and military intelligence carried out a large-scale long-range attack targeting the Moscow region of Russia on Sunday.

President Zelensky said on Telegram, "the operation" involved attacks at a distance of more than 500 kilometers and targeted areas protected by some of Russia's most concentrated air defense systems.

"The Moscow region is the region most saturated with Russian air defense systems because they protect the area around their power center the most," Zelensky said, claiming that Ukraine's long-range capabilities are increasingly able to overcome these defenses, Anadolu (18/5) reported.

He also said Ukrainian forces had attacked facilities in Russian-held territory, including Crimea, over the past day.

Zelensky claimed Ukraine's growing long-range strike capabilities were changing the battlefield situation and international perceptions of the conflict, adding more foreign partners were now aware of the vulnerability of targets inside Russia.

"This war, as can be predicted, is returning to its "home port", "he explained, adding that this development shows the consequences of what he called Russia's war against Ukraine.

Separately, Russian authorities earlier said at least three people were killed and 12 wounded in Ukrainian drone attacks over the past day.

In addition, Moscow airports have been forced to suspend operations several times due to Ukrainian air raids.