Ukrainian drone attacks on the Moscow region have shattered the Kremlin's narrative that the war in Ukraine is a distant conflict, as three people were killed and 12 injured in the latest assault. The attacks, which damaged apartment buildings and destroyed private homes, mark a significant escalation in Ukraine's ability to strike deep into Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky framed the strikes as just retribution for Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, including a missile strike that killed 24 people in Kyiv. 'We are clearly telling the Russians: Their state must end its war,' Zelensky said in a social media post.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported shooting down 1,054 Ukrainian drones in 24 hours, one of the highest tallies of the war. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 81 drones were downed over the capital, with one hitting a refinery and another igniting an oil tank fire. Several Moscow airports suspended operations, and a drone fell on the grounds of Sheremetyevo airport without causing damage.
The attacks come amid rising domestic tensions in Russia over the war's cost and restrictive government policies. Authorities have restricted cellphone internet and blocked messaging apps, citing the need to thwart drone attacks, but critics denounce the moves as control measures. Public frustration is growing, and some pro-Kremlin military bloggers have begun questioning government policies.
President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have both suggested the war is nearing its end, but no concrete progress has been made. Putin reiterated maximalist demands for Ukraine to withdraw from four annexed regions, which Kyiv has rejected. The Moscow attacks underscore Ukraine's growing drone capabilities and its determination to bring the war home to Russians.
