In an unprecedented escalation, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow on Tuesday, killing at least two people and injuring 18 others, according to Russian officials. The assault also caused a temporary shutdown of all four of Moscow’s airports, disrupting air traffic across the capital.
Massive Drone Barrage Targets Russian Territory
Russia’s defense ministry reported that a staggering 337 drones were downed across the country, with 91 intercepted over the Moscow region and 126 over Kursk, an area where Ukrainian forces have recently been pulling back. The dawn assault coincided with U.S.-led peace discussions in Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the three-year conflict, even as Russian forces continue their offensive in Kursk, attempting to encircle Ukrainian troops.
Moscow, which has a population exceeding 21 million, has faced repeated drone strikes in recent months, but Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described Tuesday’s attack as the most intense yet. Ukraine has increasingly used drones to strike oil refineries, airfields, and radar stations deep inside Russian territory in response to repeated mass missile and drone strikes from Russia.
Calls for Retaliation and Russia’s Response
The attack triggered calls for retaliation from Russian lawmakers. Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov, head of Russia’s parliamentary defense committee, suggested that Moscow should respond by deploying the "Oreshnik" hypersonic missile, which Russia previously used against Ukraine last November. However, he emphasized that any such decision would rest with President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, Russian food giant Miratorg confirmed that two employees were killed by falling debris at a meat processing plant, while another 18 individuals, including three children, were injured as drone fragments struck residential buildings.
Daily Life in Moscow Continues Amid Attacks
Despite the attack, Moscow commuters continued with their daily routines, showing no signs of panic. Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov shared images of damaged apartments with shattered windows but emphasized that city operations remained unaffected.
Russia’s aviation authority temporarily suspended flights at all four of Moscow’s airports, diverting air traffic to other cities before operations resumed.
Escalation Amid Rising Tensions
Although U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to broker peace in Ukraine, the battlefield situation continues to escalate. Russian forces are intensifying their spring offensive in Kursk, while Ukraine is executing deep-strike drone operations against strategic Russian targets.
To counter these threats, Russia has reinforced Moscow’s air defense network, deploying advanced electronic jamming systems, multi-layered missile defenses, and a vast network of counter-drone measures to safeguard key government and military installations.
Drones: The Game-Changer in Modern Warfare
The ongoing conflict, the largest in Europe since World War II, has seen a dramatic shift in military tactics, with drone warfare emerging as a critical tool for both Russia and Ukraine. Both nations are rapidly expanding their drone programs, transforming commercial UAVs into deadly precision weapons.
The war has also witnessed the psychological impact of drone strikes on soldiers, with both sides using drone footage for propaganda, often showing enemy troops caught in deadly attacks.
While Putin has worked to shield Moscow from the war’s direct effects, he has condemned Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure, including nuclear power plants, as "acts of terrorism" and has vowed to respond decisively.
Moscow’s War Economy Thrives Despite Conflict
Despite the war, Moscow—Russia’s wealthiest city—has continued to flourish, driven by the nation’s largest defense spending surge since the Cold War. With military expenditures at record highs, the Russian capital remains largely insulated from the economic downturn affecting other regions.
As tensions continue to escalate, both sides appear locked in a relentless cycle of attack and counterattack, with no clear resolution in sight.
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