May 27, 2026

War Came to Moscow


War Came to Moscow
So scary that you can't believe it's happening. The RussianLife files

On May 17, Ukraine launched a massive drone strike on Moscow.

According to independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe, the attack on the Russian capital was the largest in over a year. Sergei Sternenko, an adviser to Ukraine's defense minister, claimed that the Moscow region was hit by the largest attack since the start of the war and that "even larger attacks" await the Russian capital.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 556 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russian regions; according to Moscow's mayor, more than 120 drones were shot down over the city. It is difficult to vouch for the accuracy of these figures, but three people were reported killed and more than 10 injured. Muscovites saw debris falling on them and reacted on social media. Fires broke out in several parts of the region, including at Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Although Ukrainian drones have flown into Moscow airspace before, and, in terms of the scale of casualties, this attack is comparable to the one in March of last year, it seems this was the first time that residents of the capital truly felt the threat.

Independent experts predict it is likely there will be more strikes like this in the near future, as Ukrainian drone production is growing and launches are becoming increasingly widespread and effective. Russian air defense, by contrast, is depleted — its systems are being destroyed by Ukrainian armed forces faster than new ones can be produced.

The raid on Moscow was part of the response to Russian strikes on Kyiv on May 14, which killed 24 people. Further, the attacks took place in the aftermath of complex negotiations for a ceasefire on May 9, when Russia celebrated Victory Day and held a military parade.

Alexander Kovalenko, an analyst with the "Information Resistance" group, told Novaya Gazeta Europe that the attack demonstratds that the parade could easily have been disrupted. "But Kyiv acceded to calls for peace on this important day. In response, we received mass terror," the expert said.

So not only did hopes that the ceasefire would last longer and serve as a step toward ending the war fail to materialize, but the conflict may even be entering a new phase of tension.

You Might Also Like

The Parade Must Go On
  • May 11, 2026

The Parade Must Go On

Amid regional parade cancelations, St. Petersburg offered a subdued Victory Day march.
Black Rain of War
  • April 29, 2026

Black Rain of War

An environmental catastrophe hits Tuapse following an attack by Ukrainian drones on a local oil refinery.
An Air Self Defense
  • March 27, 2024

An Air Self Defense

Some Russian companies are buying their own air defense systems.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955