On Monday, Russian authorities alleged that Ukraine launched a drone attack on Moscow, causing one of the drones to fall near the Russian Defense Ministry's main headquarters. The Russian military also reported new strikes on southern Ukraine's port infrastructure.
What Happened:
According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, there were no casualties from the drone attacks on two non-residential buildings in Moscow. In a separate incident, a Ukrainian drone reportedly targeted an ammunition depot in Crimea, prompting a traffic stoppage on a major highway.
Russian media outlets reported that one of the drones fell on the Komsomolsky highway near Moscow's center, causing damage to shop windows and a house's roof. The incident took place about 200 yards from the Defense Ministry building, which is equipped with Pantsyr air defense systems.
The intended target of the drone is unclear—it may have been aimed at the Defense Ministry's headquarters, situated 1.7 miles away from the Kremlin, or some other target within central Moscow.
Other Incidents:
In another incident, a drone struck an office building in southern Moscow, causing significant damage to several upper floors. Emergency workers are inspecting the damage, and traffic has been halted on sections of highways where the drones fell.
It is noteworthy to mention that this marks the second drone attack on the Russian capital this month. During the first attack on July 4, Russian military officials stated that four out of five drones were intercepted and downed by air defenses on Moscow's outskirts, while the fifth was jammed and forced down, causing authorities to restrict flights at Moscow's Vnukovo airport temporarily.
Implications:
These attacks indicate a heightened intensity of drone strikes on Russian regions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has noted this increase, stating that measures are being taken and that there is ongoing round-the-clock effort to counter these attacks. He, however, did not provide any details about any enhancements to Russia's air defense systems due to the increased attacks.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's digital transformation minister, stated that Monday's drone attacks on Moscow and Crimea suggest that Russia's electronic warfare and air defenses are increasingly unable to protect the skies.
The use of drones as a tool of warfare has dramatically increased in recent conflicts. These devices, which can be small and hard to detect, are able to carry out precision strikes against targets that might be difficult to reach by other means. They can potentially change the dynamics of a conflict, enabling a less powerful entity to cause significant damage to a more powerful adversary.
In this case, Ukraine's alleged use of drones against Russia in Moscow and Crimea could have serious implications for the conflict. It suggests a shift in tactics and an escalation in the methods used. This has the potential to prolong the conflict, increase its intensity, and potentially widen its scope.
The hypocrisy is staggering!
Come on, attacking Moscow from how many hundreds of miles away? Do you know what the capability that a drone would have to have, to do that? You’re talking about a small cruise missile. This story just smells of homegrown revolt.
False flag 😒 Mr Putin
Any attack on Russia is acceptable after what Russia has done. If the Russian infrastructure is destroyed as the Ukrainian has been, Putin will fall out a window.