Ukraine Launches Extensive Drone Attack on Moscow
In a significant escalation of its aerial operations, Ukraine has executed its largest drone attack on Moscow to date, deploying at least 91 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against the Russian capital. Russian officials have confirmed that the strikes resulted in the loss of at least one life, igniting fires and damaging civilian apartment buildings. The assault also led to the temporary closure of airports and disruption of numerous flights.
The Russian defense ministry reported the interception of 337 Ukrainian drones across its territory, including 126 in Kursk, where Russian forces are actively working to encircle Ukrainian troops. Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, characterized this assault as the most extensive drone strike on the capital thus far, stating, “Seventy-four UAVs were shot down approaching Moscow, and hundreds more were intercepted along various borders.”
In response to the drone strikes, flights were suspended at all four of Moscow’s airports, causing significant disruptions to air travel, including in Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod, located to the east of the capital. This attack coincided with a meeting in Jeddah between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, was engaged in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials.
Peter Caddick-Adams, a defense analyst and NATO historian, commented to The i Paper: “The timing is crucial as Ukraine seeks to position itself ahead of potential peace negotiations. It needs leverage to make an impact on the Russians. By targeting Moscow’s airports—despite the absence of significant damage—flights have been canceled, which will undoubtedly irritate Moscow.”
The Rise of Drone Warfare
Drones have emerged as a defining element of the ongoing conflict, with Ukraine increasingly relying on UAVs to compensate for shortages in Western-supplied ammunition and artillery. Analysts have labeled the war as the world’s first large-scale “drone war.” Kyiv has made substantial investments in drone production, contracting over 1.6 million UAVs for deployment in 2024 alone. The Ukrainian fleet boasts more than 100 different models, ranging from reconnaissance drones to long-range strike vehicles capable of reaching targets over 1,300 miles away.
Many of the drones utilized in the recent attack were believed to be kamikaze UAVs—self-destructing aircraft designed to detonate upon impact. Ukraine has rapidly expanded its arsenal of domestically produced drones, many of which can bypass Russian air defenses and strike Moscow, located over 340 miles from the border. Among Ukraine’s kamikaze drones is the Rubaka, a smaller UAV with a range of 350 kilometers and a 10-kilogram explosive payload. Other models include the Morok, Liutyi, and Peklo, the latter capable of flying over 500 miles, while the U.S. has provided Kyiv with Switchblade kamikaze drones.
Caddick-Adams noted, “The Ukrainians have proven to be the most effective manufacturers of drones. While Russia is reliant on purchasing drones—such as the Shaheeds from Iran—Ukraine is developing the majority of its own.” He further explained that these drones serve operational roles in transporting payloads or functioning as long-range strategic drones. “Suicide drones, like those used in this attack on Moscow, are equipped with integrated warheads,” he added. “They are attractive due to the absence of human life on board and their geolocation capabilities, though they come at a high cost of around £100,000.”
However, these drones depend heavily on satellite technology, primarily utilizing Elon Musk’s Starlink system, which can also leverage U.S. intelligence for target identification. This reliance could pose challenges in the future. Additionally, Ukraine’s drone industry remains dependent on components manufactured in China. Civilian drones like the DJI Mavic have been repurposed for military applications, with modifications for reconnaissance, bomb drops, and suicide missions. Furthermore, the Chinese-made Mugin-5 UAVs were deployed in August 2022 to target Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol.
The UK has previously committed £325 million to enhance Ukraine’s drone capabilities, contributing to the delivery of 10,000 British-made UAVs throughout 2024. In May 2023, Britain reportedly supplied modified Banshee target drones to Ukraine, specifically adapted to counter Russia’s Iranian-made Shahed UAVs. Nevertheless, experts suggest it is “highly unlikely” these drones would be used for direct attacks on Moscow due to the UK’s restrictions on strikes deep within Russian territory.
Russia’s Countermeasures
In response to Ukraine’s expanding drone capabilities, Russia has fortified its air defenses and electronic warfare systems. The Kremlin has deployed advanced jamming technologies alongside multi-layered electronic defenses to intercept UAVs before they reach critical targets.
The Kremlin has also accelerated its own drone production, introducing the Orion drone, which is capable of carrying missiles for strikes against Ukrainian ground forces. Meanwhile, Russia continues to deploy Iranian-made Shahed drones, frequently used in attacks on Ukrainian cities. Recently, Ukraine’s air force reported the successful interception of 79 Shahed drones and an Iskander-M ballistic missile launched by Russia.
Caddick-Adams remarked, “Of the Russian drones, 35 had no payload—they were decoys—but Ukraine still had to expend resources to shoot them down, which strains their air defenses.” He concluded, “This attack clearly illustrates that Moscow is vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes, sending a significant message to President Putin about the ongoing threat posed by Ukraine’s drone capabilities.”
