Ukraine carried out its most extensive drone attack on Moscow since the start of the conflict, striking high-rise apartment buildings and parking lots on the outskirts of the Russian capital in the early hours of Tuesday. Both sides acknowledged the scale of the assault, with Moscow branding it the largest drone offensive in the three-year war.
The Kremlin swiftly condemned the attack, which came just hours before U.S. and Ukrainian officials convened for peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Kyiv defended the strikes, urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider halting long-range aerial attacks on Ukraine—an appeal Moscow has repeatedly rejected.
Moscow’s army claimed it intercepted 343 Ukrainian drones, though some crashed into residential and economic infrastructure. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described it as the “most massive enemy drone attack” on the city, while regional authorities reported that several people were injured, including a child.
Explosions Rattle Moscow Suburbs
AFP journalists observed shattered windows, debris-strewn streets, and visible damage to upper floors of an apartment block in one affected area. The attacks hit Ramenskoye, home to a Russian air base, and a location near Domodedovo Airport, prompting temporary closures of Moscow’s four main airports.
Residents recounted moments of terror. Yevgenia Bakatuyeva, 38, who lives in an affected apartment complex, said, “We were sleeping when an explosion woke us. The children screamed, and when I opened my door, all the neighbors rushed out. Somebody was covered in blood.”
More than 90 drones were intercepted over Moscow and surrounding regions, with additional strikes reported in areas bordering Ukraine. In the Vladimir region, 200 km east of Moscow, 800 villagers were evacuated after two drones were shot down.
Casualties and Investigation
Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov confirmed that two security guards, aged 50 and 38, were killed, with a third victim succumbing to injuries in a hospital. Russia’s Investigative Committee labeled the attack a “terrorist act” and launched a criminal probe.
Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign ministry escorted OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu—who was visiting Moscow—to one of the attack sites, underscoring its diplomatic significance.
Kyiv: A “Signal to Putin” for Ceasefire
Ukraine’s National Security Council’s Center for Countering Disinformation said the strikes were meant to push Putin toward accepting a ceasefire on aerial attacks. Kyiv is set to present the United States with a plan for a partial truce, seeking renewed backing from Washington, which under President Donald Trump has pushed for negotiations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attending the Saudi talks, indicated that the ceasefire proposal had potential, though Russia has previously rejected partial truces.
Battlefield Escalation Continues
Despite the drone strikes, Russia continued its ground offensive, claiming to have retaken 12 villages in its Kursk region and captured Dachne in eastern Ukraine. Moscow also launched a ballistic missile and 126 drones at Ukrainian targets overnight, with Kyiv’s air defense intercepting multiple strikes.
In Ukraine’s Donetsk region, a Russian bomb attack killed one person and wounded four, according to regional authorities.
With no sign of de-escalation, the conflict remains at a critical juncture, as diplomatic talks, military strikes, and strategic offensives unfold simultaneously.
