Kremlin Complains About Ukrainian Drone Strikes While Ignoring Largest Attack on Moscow Since Start of War
AI Analysis
Ukraine conducted a large-scale drone attack targeting Moscow and surrounding regions, focusing on military-industrial and energy infrastructure. The Kremlin downplayed the attack, claiming strikes only target military facilities while accusing Ukraine of targeting civilians. Ukraine utilized domestically produced long-range drones in the operation, including the RS-1 “Bars,” FP-1 “Firepoint,” and BARS-SM “Gladiator” systems.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine targeted Angstrem semiconductor plant (microchips for defense), Moscow oil refinery, and key oil pumping stations.
- Russia claims to have intercepted over 550 drones, while Ukraine asserts successful strikes on high-value targets.
- Ukraine is employing domestically produced long-range drones (RS-1 “Bars,” FP-1 “Firepoint,” BARS-SM “Gladiator”).
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov alleges Ukrainian drone strikes target civilian infrastructure.
- Recent Russian strikes on Kyiv resulted in at least 24 civilian deaths, including children.
Why It Matters
This demonstrates Ukraine’s increasing capability to strike deep within Russia, potentially disrupting military production and logistics. The use of domestically produced drones signals a growing self-reliance in UAS technology and a potential shift in asymmetric warfare tactics. Russia’s downplaying of the attacks suggests a concern over public perception and potential escalation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine on Monday, May 18, of carrying out “continuous” drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russia, while not mentioning one of the largest Ukrainian drone operations against Moscow and the surrounding region since the start of the war.
Speaking to Russian state propagandists, Peskov said Russia still hopes the peace process over Ukraine would resume with US mediation.
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
“We expect it will still be resumed,” Peskov said.
He also claimed Russian strikes target “only military or military-adjacent facilities.”
“In this regard, it is worth once again paying attention to the uninterrupted strikes by the Ukrainian armed forces using drones against peaceful objects and civilian infrastructure in various Russian cities and settlements,” Peskov added.
Peskov’s comments came days after Russia carried out one of its deadliest recent attacks on Kyiv.
During the overnight assault on May 14-15, Russian forces launched 675 drones and 56 missiles against Ukraine, mainly targeting the capital.
At least 24 people, including three children, were killed after a missile destroyed part of a residential building in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district. Another 47 people, including children, were injured.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had conducted a “virtually non-stop aerial attack” over two days.
Russia continued attacks on other days, including overnight into Monday, striking Dnipro and Odesa with drones and missiles.
According to Ukrainian officials, at least 20 civilians were injured, including children. Residential buildings, warehouses, and civilian infrastructure were damaged in both cities.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 546 aerial targets overnight, including 524 drones and 22 missiles.
Peskov also did not mention Ukraine’s large-scale weekend drone strikes on Moscow and the surrounding region.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Ukrainian forces struck several facilities linked to Russia’s military-industrial and energy sectors.
Targets reportedly included the Angstrem semiconductor plant in Zelenograd, which produces microchips for Russia’s defense industry, the Moscow oil refinery in the Kapotnya district, and the Solnechnogorsk and Volodarskoye oil pumping stations – key parts of the fuel supply network serving Moscow and Russian military logistics.
Ukraine also said it struck a semiconductor production facility supplying components for precision weapons, as well as oil storage and fuel transport infrastructure used by the Russian military.
According to the General Staff, domestically produced long-range drones, including the RS-1 “Bars,” FP-1 “Firepoint,” and BARS-SM “Gladiator” systems, were used in the operation.
Russian authorities claimed more than 550 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across multiple regions, though Ukrainian officials said several high-value targets were successfully hit.
Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.