Another Drone Attack Hits Moscow

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Facts

  • Russia has blamed Ukraine for another drone attack on Moscow that took place on Tuesday, the second in a week and the fifth since two drones were brought down over the Kremlin in May.1
  • The country's defense ministry said two drones were shot down in the wider Moscow region, namely the areas of Odintsovo and Naro-Fominsk, while a third was brought down by signal jamming over the capital, striking a non-residential skyscraper in the Moscow-City complex. The same building was also struck in Sunday's attack.2
  • A Russian emergency services official told the news outlet TASS that "preliminary data" showed that there had been "no casualties following a drone attack on a tower in the IQ-quarter of the Moscow-City [complex]." They added that "[the] building’s glazing above floor 17 sustained damages."2
  • The high-rise building, located roughly 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the Kremlin, reportedly houses a number of government agencies, including the headquarters of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.3
  • As has been the case with previous attacks on Moscow, the city's Vnukovo Airport was temporarily shut down and its flights redirected — operations resumed a little later in the day.4
  • Meanwhile, keeping in line with their policy of not commenting on attacks inside Russia, Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the incident. However, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy did make a statement after the attack, saying: "Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia — to its symbolic centers and military bases. This is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process."1

Sources: 1Guardian, 2TASS (a), 3Associated Press, and 4TASS (b).

Narratives

  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Ukraine is resorting to terror attacks inside Russian territory because its counteroffensive is failing to have any real impact on the war. This is the act of a desperate nation trying to weaken Moscow.
  • Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by BBC News. After launching an illegal invasion of Ukraine, it is inevitable that the consequences of such a conflict return home to Russia. Attacks inside the country are fully justified.

Predictions