Moscow Under a Drone Blitz: How Putin Might Revamp Tactics

Wed Jun 24 2026 00:12:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Over 200 Ukrainian drones hit Moscow, Russia says it intercepted 1,000 drones, raising questions about Putin's next move.

Russian jets fired back at Moscow after an unprecedented wave of Ukrainian drones that detonated almost 200 times over the capital. The air‑defence system reportedly shot down roughly 1,000 drones and four cruise missiles in 24 hours, while a fuel depot in Rostov was hit, claiming a life. Local officials reported 17 injuries around Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the raids “long‑range sanctions,” a tongue‑in‑cheek label for long‑distance strikes. Analysts now wonder whether Putin will change his strategy or rely more on drone technology to counteract the Ukraine offensive.

Moscow under heavy drone fire

Russian capital Moscow faced the biggest wave of Ukrainian drone attacks since the war began, with nearly 200 craft flying over the city.

The raids left columns of thick smoke and wounded 17 people in the surrounding region, according to Governor Andrei Vorobyov.

Russia’s air‑defence said in just 24 hours it intercepted almost 1,000 drones and four cruise missiles nationwide, and a fuel depot in southern Rostov was struck, killing one person.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the strikes as “long‑range sanctions” – a sardonic term for targeted hits from afar.

How will Putin respond to this new wave of high‑tech threats? Experts believe Russia may tweak tactics or beef up its own drone capabilities.