New explosions rock Moscow just days after historic drone assault - video
Russian security forces with machine guns near the Kremlin, in Moscow center, May 15, 2026 (Photo: REUTERS/Anastasia Barashkova)
Russian air defense shot down at least two drones targeting Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobianin claimed following overnight explosions on May 19.
The latest incident follows a historic drone barrage that hammered the Russian political heartland and the surrounding Moscow Oblast just two days earlier.
"Emergency service specialists are working at the site of the fallen debris," Sobianin wrote on his Telegram channel regarding the fresh strikes.
Historic May 17 assault
The ongoing vulnerability of the capital comes after a massive wave of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) struck several cities across Moscow Oblast on the night of May 17. Local residents reported explosions and subsequent fires in the suburban towns of Khimky, Durykyne, Lobnia, Zelenograd, and Naro-Fominsk, with thick plumes of smoke rising over multiple settlements.
Ukrainian Defense Ministry confirmed that Moscow and the surrounding oblast experienced the largest aerial assault since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy openly acknowledged the operation, framing it as a direct consequence of Russian military aggression.
"Our responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and its strikes on our cities and communities are entirely justified," Zelenskyy stated.
"This time, Ukrainian long-range sanctions have reached the Moscow region, and we are sending a clear message to the Russian people: their state must end its war."
Commenting on the successful deep strikes, the Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi (known by his callsign "Madyar"), noted that Moscow is no longer an unreachable target for Ukrainian drones and has officially lost its "one-way ticket" to a peaceful life.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 556 Ukrainian drones across various regions during the May 17 barrage. Sobianin stated that more than 120 of those UAVs were purportedly downed within the capital region alone.
According to Russian authorities, the massive weekend bombardment left three people dead in Moscow Oblast and another 12 injured within the city limits.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
