Inspector evaluating the damage of one of the drones strikes in Moscow on May 30, 2023.
Photo Credit: Almaty AP
Kevin Zhang, Research Assistant
The America-Eurasia Center
www.eurasiacenter.org
The America-Eurasia Business Coalition
www.usebc.org
It is the middle of the night and you hear two loud explosions that rock your home in one of the
most heavily fortified capitals in the world. How would you feel? The War in Ukraine is a land
conflict in which Ukraine protects their sovereignty against Russian aggression. The war has taken
place mostly on Ukrainian soil, and the Ukrainian people have taken most of the brunt of terror as
Russian missile strikes destroy their homeland. However, on Tuesday, May 30th, Muscovites woke
up to the sound of explosions and shattered glass, as one of the first confirmed Ukrainian strikes on
Russian land, many news outlets have sensationalized the assault as “Bringing The War to Russia.”
Reports state that 8 drones were spotted in Moscow early Tuesday, May 30, and explosions
were heard in several districts and outlying regions of the city. The location of the strike was
Rublyoka, an area known as the wealthy part of the city where politicians and oligarchs reside.
Furthermore, this area is close to Novo-Ogaryovo, the city of Putin’s residence. According to RIA-
Novosti, Russian state news, one drone hit the upper floor of a high-rise building in southwest
Moscow while another hit the 14th floor of an apartment building in Leninsky Prospekt.There was
reportedly only minor damage caused by the strikes. The Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin, states
there were no casualties, and the residents of the building hit could go back to their homes by the
end of the day.
The Ukrainian military’s motive for the attacks was reported by NBC News, which claims
that an anonymous US congressional staffer told them that the drone strikes were aimed at top
Russian intelligence officers. They explain that one of the targeted buildings had ties to the Russian
intelligence service and that the attack was not simply an attack on an affluent neighborhood but
was a strategic target towards Russian resources.
The Russian and Ukrainian Response
Russian President Vladimir Putin, responded to the attack on Moscow by declaring it an act of
terrorism from Ukraine. He explains that “the Kyiv regime chose a different path – the path of
attempts to intimidate Russia, to intimidate Russia’s citizens, and of air strikes against residential
buildings.” This statement is ironic as Russia struck Kyiv the night before, killing one civilian.
There have been over 17 drone attacks on Kyiv in May alone, compared to the one Ukrainian attack
on Moscow.
On the other hand, Ukraine denies all involvement in the morning drone attack on Moscow.
Presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak states, “Of course, we enjoy watching and predicting an
increase in attacks … But of course, we have nothing to do directly with it…what is growing in
Russia is the karmic payment that Russia will gradually pay in aggravated form for everything it
does in Ukraine.” Ukraine has denied any responsibilities with any forms of aggression outside
their country. Ukraine has similarly denied any involvement in the current incursion of Belgorod on
the Russian-Ukraine border, claiming that they are not funding Russian Volunteers fighters.
In contrast CNN reports that members of US intelligence told them that Ukraine is behind the
airstrikes in Moscow and that they supplied these drones to anti-Putin agents within Russia. They
explain that the drones used in the strikes were launched within Russia rather than directly from
Ukraine. But regardless of the evidence of Ukrainian involvement, they will always deny it due to
the stipulation regarding foreign aid given to Ukraine.
Other Responses
In response to the drone strikes on Moscow, a US National Security Council spokesperson
said, “As a general matter, we do not support attacks inside of Russia. We have been focused on
providing Ukraine with the equipment and training they need to retake their sovereign territory, and
that’s exactly what we’ve done.” Countries that have aided Ukraine in the war have emphasized the
defensive nature of their aid, not wanting to be held liable for any aggression towards Russia. John
Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications of the White House National Security Council,
said that while the United States supplies drones for Ukraine, Zelenskyy ultimately marks the strike
locations regardless of US advice. However, some countries have indirectly justified directly
attacking Russia after the Moscow strikes.
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom James Cleverly stated that “It (Ukraine) has the
legitimate right to do so within its own borders of course, but it does also have the right to project
force beyond its borders to undermine Russia’s ability to project force into Ukraine itself”, and that
an attack on legitimate military targets beyond the border is a part of self-defense. German
Secretary of State Stefen Hebestreit relayed a similar statement to the press, saying that Ukraine can
launch attacks into Russian territory, but also noted that they do not want them to use German
weapons for such attacks.
Psychological Warfare and Future Considerations
There is now a new front in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as more insurgencies occur in Russia.
There was the previous drone attack on the Kremlin last month, the ongoing volunteer army in
Belgorod, and now the strike in the residential districts of Moscow. While the drones were not
particularly effective in causing damage, they sent a message to the Russian government. The fact
that the drones were most likely launched within Russia through Ukrainian sympathizers and that
the air defense systems could not stop the drones before making a few strikes shows a considerable
vulnerability in Russian defensive capabilities. Putin has attempted to downplay the issue, claiming
that the defense systems were working as intended. Still, on-the-ground interviews showed that
residents were shocked that they witnessed smoke and explosions in their capital city. The strikes
have also angered infamous Wagner Group Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who screamed expletives
towards the Minister of Defense for letting strikes hit the Russian homeland, asking what people
will do once they see drones crashing through their homes. Seeing the war spiral towards the
motherland can potentially be the catalyst for more discontent towards Putin and his government,
but there is also a chance an attack like this could cause a “rally effect” that leads citizens to support
Putin as the only way to stop the chaos surrounding them. Regardless, the fact that there are attacks
within the cities of Russia will be in the people’s minds as the war looms into the second year.
The drone strike on Moscow is an unprecedented event in a time of transition in this conflict.
Since the attacks, insurgencies within Russia are preparing under the backdrop of a planned
counter-offensive into occupied territories. Several third parties in NATO are warming up to the
idea of Ukraine directly attacking Russia as a part of its self-defense. People are terrified in the
streets, and Yevgeny Prigozhin is again discrediting the Russian Regime on its performance in the
war. This news could mean nothing in the grand scheme of the war, but it could also be a potential
moment where the war was “brought to Russia.”
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