Russian authorities have once again accused Ukraine of drone attacks on Moscow and its vicinity, with one of the drones hitting a building in the capital that was previously damaged in a similar attack. Russian officials argue that these intensified strikes reflect Ukraine’s counteroffensive failures, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggests that the war is encroaching on Russian territory. However, he stops short of claiming responsibility for the attacks.

These recurring drone strikes serve as a poignant reminder of Moscow’s vulnerability as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its 18th month. The Russian Defence Ministry reported that it shot down two Ukrainian drones and jammed another, causing it to crash into a skyscraper in the Moscow City business district. Surprisingly, the same building was targeted twice in a row, raising questions about the motive behind these attacks.

The IQ-Quarter, situated just 7.2 kilometers (4.5 miles) from the Kremlin, houses several government agencies, including the reported headquarters of Russia’s Ministry for Economic Development. Thankfully, there were no casualties reported from the Tuesday attack.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that the drone that crashed into the skyscraper was the same one that caused damage in a previous attack early Sunday. Both times, the Russian military claims the drones were jammed before crashing.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s advisor suggested that Moscow is getting accustomed to a full-fledged war, implying that the conflict might eventually extend to the “authors of the war” to hold them accountable for their actions.

Furthermore, Russian forces reported that Ukrainian maritime drones attempted to attack two of their warships in the Black Sea. The drones targeted two patrol vessels southwest of Sevastopol, Crimea, resulting in the destruction of all three drones.

These incidents come in the wake of a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy’s hometown. The strike caused considerable damage to a residential building, resulting in the loss of at least six lives and injuring dozens more.

Source: With Agencies