In an unprecedented escalation of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, Moscow and Kyiv were both targeted by drone strikes on Tuesday, marking the first time the Russian capital has faced such a major attack since World War II, according to a Russian lawmaker.
The conflict, which erupted when Russia invaded Ukraine in February of the previous year, has largely been confined to Ukrainian territory. However, the recent drone attack on Moscow suggests an alarming shift. The early morning strikes reportedly hit some of Moscow's most affluent regions, including a western area home to President Vladimir Putin and Russia's upper echelons.
The Russian defence ministry reported that eight drones from Kyiv were intercepted or deflected. However, a Telegram channel linked to security services, Baza, suggested the number was closer to 25.
Apart from the physical damage, the incident also rattled Moscow's residents who were awakened by loud explosions and the smell of gasoline. Two residents sustained injuries and some buildings were temporarily evacuated, Moscow's mayor reported.
Maxim Ivanov, a Russian lawmaker, dubbed the attack as the gravest on Moscow since the Nazi era, asserting that it represents a "new reality". He emphasized, "You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our Motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration and betrayal will engulf your family."
Meanwhile, Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential aide, denied Kyiv's direct involvement in the Moscow attack, but hinted at the possibility of more similar incidents in the future.
The protracted conflict, largely at a stalemate throughout 2023, has wreaked immense destruction, claiming numerous lives, displacing millions, reducing cities to rubble, and triggering global economic disruption.
In a related development, Kyiv also came under attack on Tuesday, with the Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stating that four people were killed in Russia's latest round of assaults, and 34 others, including two children, were injured. In response, Ukrainian defence forces reportedly shot down over 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones.
As the war enters its sixteenth month, Ukraine's resolve remains undeterred, backed by U.S.-supplied Patriot anti-missile defences which reportedly boast a 100% interception rate. The country is gearing up for a counter-offensive with Western support to reclaim territory seized by Russia.
While the International Criminal Court seeks President Putin on war crimes charges, speculation has arisen about his potential participation in the upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa, where theoretically he could face arrest. Responding to queries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured that Russia would be represented at the summit at "the proper level".
