May 27, 2026

War Came to Moscow


War Came to Moscow
So scary that you can't believe it's happening. The RussianLife files

On May 17, Ukraine launched a massive drone strike on Moscow.

According to independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe, the attack on the Russian capital was the largest in over a year. Sergei Sternenko, an adviser to Ukraine's defense minister, claimed that the Moscow region was hit by the largest attack since the start of the war and that "even larger attacks" await the Russian capital.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 556 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russian regions; according to Moscow's mayor, more than 120 drones were shot down over the city. It is difficult to vouch for the accuracy of these figures, but three people were reported killed and more than 10 injured. Muscovites saw debris falling on them and reacted on social media. Fires broke out in several parts of the region, including at Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Although Ukrainian drones have flown into Moscow airspace before, and, in terms of the scale of casualties, this attack is comparable to the one in March of last year, it seems this was the first time that residents of the capital truly felt the threat.

Independent experts predict it is likely there will be more strikes like this in the near future, as Ukrainian drone production is growing and launches are becoming increasingly widespread and effective. Russian air defense, by contrast, is depleted — its systems are being destroyed by Ukrainian armed forces faster than new ones can be produced.

The raid on Moscow was part of the response to Russian strikes on Kyiv on May 14, which killed 24 people. Further, the attacks took place in the aftermath of complex negotiations for a ceasefire on May 9, when Russia celebrated Victory Day and held a military parade.

Alexander Kovalenko, an analyst with the "Information Resistance" group, told Novaya Gazeta Europe that the attack demonstratds that the parade could easily have been disrupted. "But Kyiv acceded to calls for peace on this important day. In response, we received mass terror," the expert said.

So not only did hopes that the ceasefire would last longer and serve as a step toward ending the war fail to materialize, but the conflict may even be entering a new phase of tension.

You Might Also Like

The Parade Must Go On
  • May 11, 2026

The Parade Must Go On

Amid regional parade cancelations, St. Petersburg offered a subdued Victory Day march.
Black Rain of War
  • April 29, 2026

Black Rain of War

An environmental catastrophe hits Tuapse following an attack by Ukrainian drones on a local oil refinery.
An Air Self Defense
  • March 27, 2024

An Air Self Defense

Some Russian companies are buying their own air defense systems.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955