In a video address, President Zelensky emphasized that attacks on Russian territory were a natural consequence of the ongoing war between the two countries. He stated that Ukraine was growing stronger, and the war was gradually returning to Russia’s symbolic centers and military bases.
The drone attack in Moscow is the latest in a series of incidents that Russia has attributed to Kyiv, while Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia. Though there were no injuries reported in the drone attack on Moscow, the facades of two office buildings were slightly damaged, and flights were temporarily suspended at Vnukovo Airport.
Moscow, located about 500 km (310 miles) from the Ukrainian border, has seldom been targeted since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, Russia has accused Ukraine of conducting multiple drone strikes on its territory, including ones on the capital.
Ukraine and Russia have also engaged in a drone attack exchange on Crimea, the territory annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian officials reported an overnight drone attack on Crimea, with Russia stating that 16 drones were destroyed and nine others were suppressed.
In addition to the attack on Moscow, one person was killed and five others injured in a Russian missile attack on the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine. Another attack in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia resulted in two fatalities.