Europe·4 May 2026
Ukraine launched a major drone campaign striking Moscow and the Primorsk oil port, damaging a warship and energy infrastructure, while Russia retaliated with heavy missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, killing at least 7 and causing power outages. On the front lines, Russian forces made incremental gains in eastern Ukraine. Sweden detained a suspected Russian shadow fleet ship, and Finland pledged $300 million in military aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine Strikes Deep Into Russia: Moscow Hit, Baltic Ports Burning
Ukraine launched a massive, multi-front drone campaign against Russian territory overnight on May 3-4, striking the capital Moscow and the Baltic oil port of Primorsk in the Leningrad region. In Moscow, a Ukrainian Pink Flamingo FP-1 drone struck the 'Dom na Mosfilmovskoy' residential complex on Mosfilmovskaya Street, approximately 3-6 kilometers from the Kremlin, blowing out walls on the 36th floor and damaging the facade. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed no casualties, and air defense intercepted two additional drones heading toward the city. The Russian Defense Ministry reported 117 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones destroyed overnight across multiple regions, including Moscow, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Voronezh, Volgograd, Kaluga, and Kursk. Rosaviatsia restricted operations at airports in Penza, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg, while Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Sheremetyevo airports also faced disruptions.
Simultaneously, Ukraine struck the Primorsk oil export port in the Leningrad region for the third time since March 20. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed over 60 drones were shot down and a fire broke out at the facility, which was extinguished by morning with no oil spill. Ukrainian sources confirmed that special forces severely damaged a Karakurt-class warship capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles at its berth in Primorsk, as well as striking the oil loading pier, storage tanks, and buildings. NASA FIRMS satellite data confirmed multiple heat signatures at the facility, indicating active fires. President Zelensky confirmed the strikes, noting that Ukraine also hit two shadow fleet tankers near the port of Novorossiysk. The attacks are part of an ongoing campaign that has already destroyed 40% of Primorsk's oil storage capacity and severely reduced Russian Baltic exports.
Russian Missile and Drone Barrage Hits Ukrainian Cities
Russia responded with a heavy missile and drone barrage across Ukraine on May 3-4. In Dnipro, five Kh-59/69 cruise missiles were launched; Ukrainian air defenses intercepted four, with debris from one downed missile falling into the Dnipro River. A separate strike on a dormitory in a residential block killed one person and injured 11, with six hospitalized. In the Kharkiv region, ballistic missiles hit the town of Merefa, killing at least three people and injuring eight, damaging a service station, four shops, and private and multi-story residential buildings. Rescue efforts are ongoing.
Ukraine's air defense forces reported downing or suppressing 135 of 155 Russian drones launched overnight, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and decoy types. Fourteen strike drones hit 10 locations across Ukraine, while debris fell at four additional sites. Russian strikes on energy infrastructure caused new power outages in Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, and Kherson regions, according to national energy company Ukrenergo. Geran drones also struck a target in Chernihiv, and a drone strike near a gas station in Dnipropetrovsk's Krynichanska community wounded six people, including a child and a pregnant woman, damaging a bus carrying 40 children.
Front-Line Fighting: Russian Advances and Drone Warfare
On the eastern front, Russian forces made incremental territorial gains over the past 24 hours, advancing in the area of Korchakovka, adjusting the control zone near Bochkovo, expanding control around Koroviy Yar, and advancing in the settlement of Dolgaya Balka. Ukrainian forces retain control of Lukyanovskoye, while Primorskoye remains in a contested gray zone. Russian forces are also advancing toward Studenok and Svyatogorsk in the Rubtsovsk direction, with assault units of the 20th Army of the 'West' group engaging Ukrainian forces in the Studenok area and in the forested 'Svyatye Gory' National Nature Park. Fierce fighting is underway near Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
New footage reveals the total destruction of the front-line city of Kostiantynivka, which is subjected to daily artillery and guided bomb attacks by Russian forces. Despite the devastation, Ukrainian units maintain control over most of the city. In a deep-strike operation, a Ukrainian Hornet drone attempted an attack on a Russian Armed Forces truck in the Mariupol area, approximately 150km from the line of contact, highlighting Ukraine's expanding use of medium-range drones equipped with Starlink antennas to target Russian logistics. Russian forces released footage of an FPV drone strike on a Ukrainian Armed Forces boat transporting troops on the Oskol River near Kupyansk.
Sweden Detains Suspected Russian Shadow Fleet Ship; Finland Pledges Aid
Sweden detained the 182-meter ship 'Jin Hui' off its southern coast near Trelleborg, suspecting it belongs to Russia's shadow fleet. The vessel was sailing under a Syrian flag and is on EU, UK, and Ukraine sanctions lists. Swedish Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin stated the ship is suspected of sailing under a false flag and has insufficient insurance. The Coast Guard reports the ship likely has no cargo and its purpose is unknown; a preliminary investigation into its seaworthiness has begun.
Finland pledged $300 million in military aid to Ukraine, with the main focus on strengthening air defense, according to President Zelensky. The aid package underscores Finland's continued commitment to Ukraine's security.
Stabbing Attack in Spain; Bulk Carrier Attacked Near Strait of Hormuz
In Spain, a Muslim migrant reportedly shouted 'Allah hu Akbar' and randomly stabbed a young girl to death, inflicting seven knife wounds in broad daylight. The victim bled to death on the road. Authorities are investigating the attack, which has sparked outrage and renewed debates on immigration and public safety.
A bulk carrier was attacked by multiple small craft off the Iranian coast near the Strait of Hormuz. The crew is reported safe. This incident adds to a series of similar attacks in the area amid heightened tensions and the ongoing US blockade of Iran.