Ukraine’s Drone Attacks on Moscow: A Timeline of Escalation

On June 18, 2026, Moscow faced its largest Ukrainian drone attack since the full-scale war began: nearly 200 drones struck the capital overnight, sparking a fire at the Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya for the second time in two days. This escalation marks a hundredfold increase in attack intensity based on official Russian accounts. The timeline traces the gradual rise: on May 3, 2023, two drones exploded near the Senate Palace dome in the Kremlin. Later that month, drones hit residential buildings. In July 2023, strikes targeted non-residential buildings and the Moscow City towers. By August 2024, air defenses were downing 10 drones per approach. September 2024 saw the first fire at the oil refinery. The first mass strike came on March 11, 2025, with 74 drones shot down, three killed, and 18 injured. In March 2026, a three-day assault involved 250 drones, prompting internet blocks. May 17, 2026, saw 120 drones downed in 24 hours, hitting the refinery entrance, a tech park, and Sheremetyevo airport. Daily raids in early June 2026 caused minor damage, but on June 16, 86 drones were downed, all four airports closed, and a refinery fire halted operations. Two days later, the record attack injured 17 in the Moscow region and damaged shopping centers and a fitness club.