Putin Blames West After Nearly 200 Drones Hit Moscow in War's Largest Strike
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
Putin Blames West After Nearly 200 Drones Hit Moscow in War's Largest Strike
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
Summary
Nearly 200 Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow on June 18, the largest strike on the Russian capital of the war, and Putin waited days before addressing it publicly.
Tuesday's appearance shifted blame to the West rather than the attack itself, extending the Kremlin's practice of describing the war through euphemisms such as a "special military operation."
That messaging has also obscured domestic fallout: officials cite refinery "unscheduled maintenance" instead of drone damage, while the central bank frames war-driven spending as a "structural transformation" of the economy.
As drone and missile attacks increasingly hit Moscow, Crimea and Russian fuel infrastructure, the gap between official rhetoric and daily reality is becoming a growing source of frustration for Russians.
With drone attacks shattering the Kremlin's narrative, is elite discontent becoming the greatest threat to Putin's rule?
Are Ukrainian drones exposing a fatal, hidden dependency at the core of Russia’s advanced weapons systems?
As its war economy devours civilian industry, is Russia approaching an inevitable economic breaking point?
The June 18, 2026 Drone Assault on Moscow: Ukraine’s Escalation, Russian Vulnerabilities, and the Future of the War
Overview
On June 18, 2026, Moscow was shaken by a major drone attack that targeted the southeastern districts, especially near the Kapotnya oil refinery. Residents were jolted awake by loud explosions, heavy smoke, and a strong smell of burning, with some experiencing physical effects like rising blood pressure and difficulty breathing indoors. The intensity of the blasts caused buildings to tremble and forced some people to leave their homes for safety. This attack caused widespread alarm and disruption, highlighting the vulnerability of Moscow’s infrastructure and the growing impact of drone warfare on daily life in the city.