Ukraine War Marks Moscow’s First Drone Strikes

In the ongoing Ukraine War, a series of unmanned aerial vehicles targeted residential complexes in Moscow for the first time. These strikes occurred in a neighborhood near President Vladimir Putin’s residence, and Russia attributed the attack to Kyiv.

Online videos captured the scene as smoke billowed over the opulent estates in the area, while photographs circulated on social media and state television revealed the damaged apartment buildings in Moscow and its outskirts.

The Rublyovka district, home to the city’s political and business elite and situated just a few miles from Putin’s official Novo-Ogaryovo residence, witnessed the downing of several drones.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov promptly informed Putin about the attack without disclosing the president’s whereabouts. Also, analysts considered the strikes as retaliatory actions in response to previous Russian offensives on Ukraine, in accordance with SEO rules.

Later on Tuesday, Putin reiterated his rationale for the military operation in Ukraine during a televised interview, suggesting that the morning’s attack served as retaliation for a Russian strike on Ukraine’s military intelligence headquarters (HUR).

According to Putin, Ukraine’s attempts to intimidate Russia and its citizens by launching strikes on residential areas constituted clear terrorist activities.

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As can be seen, over the past three days, Russia has intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, focusing primarily on Kyiv. This strategy aims to degrade the country’s air defenses and diminish its citizens’ will to resist.

Separate sources reported that a Russian missile hit a building within the HUR compound on Monday. Although there were no reported casualties, the severe damage endured by the structure.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, head of HUR, dismissed Russia’s attempts to intimidate Ukraine, asserting that Kyiv would swiftly respond to these provocations.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu assigned partial responsibility for the Moscow strikes to the West, citing their provision of advanced weaponry to Ukraine and the potential transfer of F-16 jet fighters.

State television commentators from Russia claimed that they did not perceive the strikes in Moscow as a significant threat. City authorities and air defenses worked to neutralize the drones, leading to the evacuation of affected residents.

Russia’s Defense Ministry attributed the attack, which employed eight fixed-wing drones, to Ukraine. Radio-electronic defenses deflected three of the five shot-down drones from their intended targets. The ministry revealed that the drones were approximately 280 miles away from the Ukrainian border.

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Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, denied any involvement from Kyiv in the attack and assured that they were closely monitoring the situation.

Yuriy Ignat, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, similarly dismissed Moscow’s accusations, emphasizing that these incidents were Russia’s internal problems.

In recent weeks, violence has escalated on Russian soil ahead of an anticipated offensive by Kyiv in eastern and southern Ukraine. Alleged Russian nationals, allegedly linked to Ukrainian military intelligence, have been operating within Ukraine and launched an incursion into a border region.

Since the invasion of Ukraine last year, the attack in Moscow marks the first time that civilian areas deep inside Russia have targeted, despite the commonplace shelling near the Russian-Ukrainian border. This incident challenges Putin’s claim that the military operation is proceeding according to plan and dispels the notion held by many Russians that the conflict is distant.

Continued attacks within Russia, if proven to be carried out by Ukraine, may escalate tensions with Washington, which has urged Kyiv not to strike Russian soil or jeopardize potential aid from other Western partners.

Finally, The drone attacks have raised concerns about the potential supply of weapons to Ukraine, including Taurus missiles. Germany, for example, expressed apprehension about enabling Ukrainian forces to potentially target Moscow by delivering such systems.

These acts of violence could also influence the stance of Russia’s supporters, like China, which have thus far refrained from providing substantial lethal aid.