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.

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