The Moscow region experienced one of the heaviest Ukrainian drone attacks since the start of the war over the weekend. Russian authorities reported at least three dead and damage to residential buildings. According to reports, the attack focused on military factories and oil facilities.
The Kremlin and state television reacted cautiously, according to the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) – ‘likely with the aim of downplaying the impact of the attacks.’ However, videos of destroyed residential buildings circulating on social networks contradict the official reassurances.
Russian ultranationalist military bloggers were visibly upset on Telegram. One commentator spoke of ‘significant gaps’ in defense deep inside Russian territory. Another demanded an effective early warning system against drones and criticized the shutdown of mobile internet as ineffective, since the projectiles navigate via satellite.
The attack came in response to a massive Russian strike on Kyiv, which killed more than 20 people and hit the water supply. The war is thus moving closer for Russians living about 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
