Ukraine’s President Zelensky warns of a return of war to Russia after drones target Moscow, damaging a building. The conflict escalates as Ukraine employs drones in its military strategy.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned war is “gradually returning” to Russia, just hours after the Kremlin accused Kyiv of targeting Moscow with drones, the latest in a string of attacks. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, three drones were intercepted on Sunday, but a business and shopping development in the capital’s west was attacked. According to state news agency TASS, the fifth and sixth floors of a 50-story structure were damaged, although no injuries were reported. Videos showed rubble and emergency personnel on the scene.
Photo via Hindustan Times
“Ukraine is getting stronger, and the war is gradually returning to Russia’s territory, to its symbolic centers and military bases,” Zelensky stated in his daily address. “This is an unavoidable, natural, and completely fair outcome.” According to a spokeswoman for Ukraine’s Air Force, the latest drone assaults on Moscow are directed at Russians who have felt alone since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine in February 2022. “There is always something flying in Russia, including Moscow.” “The war is now affecting those who were unconcerned,” said spokeswoman Yurii Ihnat on Ukrainian television.
“No matter how much the Russian authorities would like to pretend that they have intercepted everything… something does hit.” Ukraine’s military is increasingly using unmanned aerial vehicles for purposes other than reconnaissance. Ukrainian Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose Digital Transformation Ministry is in charge of the country’s “Army of Drones” acquisition plan, previously stated that additional drone strikes would be carried out as Kyiv sets up a summer counteroffensive aimed at forcing Russian forces out of Ukrainian land.
Earlier this week, Moscow was targeted. On Monday, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a strike that targeted two non-residential facilities, one of which was close to the Ministry of Defense headquarters. Russia labeled the incident a “terrorist attack,” despite the fact that the Kremlin’s military efforts in Ukraine have frequently resulted in civilian casualties. Late Saturday, a Russian missile attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least two civilians and injured another 20, while a rocket strike on Zaporizhzhia killed two more.
Both areas had been bombarded for several hours over the weekend. Ukrainian officials in Sumy reported 25 incidents of shelling in a single day, while a military leader in Zaporizhzhya reported 77 attacks on 20 communities in Zaporizhzhya, destroying 31 residential buildings and other infrastructure. The strikes in Moscow did not appear to have resulted in any injuries or fatalities, but they have unnerved inhabitants of the Russian capital.
One witness to the attack on Sunday described how the incident disrupted some planned downtime. “My friends and I rented an apartment to come here and unwind, and at some point, we heard an explosion – it was like a wave, and everyone jumped,” she explained to Reuters. “There was a lot of smoke, and it was impossible to see anything.” Fire could be seen from above.”
On Sunday, Ukrainian drones also attacked the Russian-occupied Crimea Peninsula. Russia’s Defense Ministry says it intercepted 25 unmanned aerial vehicles over Ukraine’s territory in 2014, shooting down 16 of them with air defense systems.Russia announced on Friday that it shot down a Ukrainian missile over the southern Russian city of Taganrog. Ukraine has made no statement on the incident, which appears to be an unusual instance of Ukraine firing missiles within Russian territory.
The escalating drone attacks between Ukraine and Russia have intensified the conflict, with President Zelensky warning of war returning to Russian territory. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles signals a shift in Ukraine’s military strategy, and the attacks have led to casualties and destruction in both countries. Tensions remain high as the conflict continues to unfold.
