Wave of drones hits Moscow in unsuccessful strike.

 

Map showing the locations of the attacks. BBC. 

A major drone attack targeting Moscow has caused limited damage but is also a major escalation in the war. BBC. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine launched the attacks to terrorize Moscow civilians but air defenses adequately dealt with the attack. Three drones were taken out by electronic countermeasures while five were shot down, according to Russia. The drones were shot down over civilian suburbs and may have been targeting Putin's residence. The attack comes after an attack in May targeting the Kremlin. Ukraine has denied responsibility for the attack and has come under heavy drone strikes themselves. 

My Comment:

This attack is a fairly major escalation in the war. Sure, there was the minor drone attack targeting the Kremlin earlier in the month, but that at least was a legitimate military target. Targeting a civilian neighborhood, even one where high ranking officials live, is something very different. 

With that being said, this attack was a fairly embarrassing failure. I don't think I believe Russia's claims that they shot down all the drones, though it is plausible. Russia does have good air defenses but these drones are very small and hard to defend against. Even if they didn't though, the attack didn't accomplish anything. A few buildings got damaged and nobody got killed. 

Compare that to recent Russian strikes against Ukraine and it's no comparison. Russia has done severe damage to Ukrainian forces, indeed, this strike was in retaliation for an attack on Ukraine's Intelligence Service HQ, according to Russia. Russia has also blown up airfields and ammo dumps in recent days and even damaged one of the Patriot batteries that was sent to the country. 

Still, this is an escalation and I am not sure how Russia will respond. Ukraine is losing the war, and pretty obviously, but they can do damage like this occasionally. They then cheekily deny it even though it's obvious that such an attack would have to be approved by someone high up the chain. Russia has mostly refrained from targeting Ukraine's higher ups or their infrastructure but that could always change. I have said for a long time that Russia was fighting this war with one hand behind their back and that could and should change. 

This war is showing both the limitations and usefulness of drone warfare. Drones are extremely useful when they work but both sides are putting up countermeasures. Supposedly thousands of drones have been shot down during this war. But it also shows that drones can give militaries capabilities they otherwise wouldn't have. Ukraine wouldn't be able to strike Moscow at all without drones, but now they have that capability.