Following years of relentless Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, on September 20, 2026, Ukraine deployed more than 1,900 drones, eight guided aerial bombs, eight cruise missiles and four rockets on Russia’s capital, Moscow. 

It is worth mentioning drones have become an important tool in the now four-year long Russo-Ukrainian war: Russia has used Iranian-designed drones to target Ukrainian cities, civilians, and critical infrastructure. Although the drones were originally supplied by Iran, Russia has now established large-scale domestic manufacturing facilities, churning out record numbers of new, lethal drones. 

Of the approximate 1,900 Ukrainian attack drones reported by Russia’s defense ministry, roughly 450 targeted Moscow. Although the drones hit many residential buildings and other infrastructure, their main target was the city’s oil refinery, one of Russia’s most strategic fuel production facilities. The drones succeeded in damaging parts of the refinery, causing widespread fires within the refinery. Consequently, the city’s refinery is no longer producing and processing oil, hurting the nation’s ability to service its population and war efforts. Per the BBC, the site supplies more than one third of Moscow’s fuel and sends a significant fraction to support Russia’s military. 

Ukraine’s choice to attack an important aspect of Russian domestic infrastructure exemplifies how the nation is shifting their strategic focus, going on the offensive to negatively impact Russia’s military. Ukraine has explicitly mentioned its aim to avoid targeting Moscow citizens themselves but instead attack infrastructure that is aiding Russia in their assault on their neighbor. This, of course, is in direct contrast to Russia who over the past four years have deliberately attempted to murder innocent Ukrainian civilians. 

So far, the cost of the prolonged war has largely been borne by Russia’s rural regions. With Ukraine’s recent attacks (and their newer strategy), the Moscow elite will reap the effects. Ukraine now aims to make the Moscovian aristocracy bear the brunt of the war, whether directly or indirectly. 

This recent attack occurred during the Russian parliamentary elections, the first time the polls have opened since the nation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In mid-to-late September, Russian voters elected members of the State Duma, the lower chamber of Russian parliament. Current president Vladimir Putin is backed by the United Russian Party and, according to Al-Jazeera, is widely-expected to retain a dominant political grasp over the nation. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote in a statement on Russian social media platform Telegram that “[t]he unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections” and Ukraine, “the enemy,” did not succeed. 

Although Russian leaders believe Ukraine failed to disrupt the elections, the latter’s actions did deter some from voting due to displacement. Plus, the strategic timing of the attack reinforces Ukraine’s ability to rid Moscow of a sense of normalcy and bring the effects of a brutal, bloody war to Russia’s capital.

Following the Ukrainian attack, Russia has accelerated its strikes on Ukraine’s civilian population. Although the September offensive exhibited Ukraine’s capacity to push back against the constant attacks on Kyiv, the Ukrainian resistance has escalated tensions between the two nations and enabled Russia to strike Ukrainian schools, libraries, and playgrounds daily. According to the Atlantic Council, Putin plans to intensify the aerial war against Ukraine by continuing to target Kyiv. 

Let me be clear, the Russian attacks on Kyiv versus the Ukrainian attacks on Moscow have very different intentions. In Russia’s attacks, the nation violates international humanitarian law by attacking places where children learn and civilians congregate. On the other hand, Ukraine is focused on only attacking infrastructure that supports Russian war efforts, like Moscow’s oil refinery. In addition, Russia has presented no plan to cease their strikes and, per CBS News, are stockpiling more lethal drones. Even though the ‘largest ever’ attack on Moscow served as an important step in Ukraine’s resistance and exemplified how Russian elites can bear the brunt of war, Russia continues to attempt to wipe out the Ukrainian population. For now, Moscow is beginning to feel the effects of the war it started, but Ukraine’s civilians are paying far more for it.