The Russian capital and its surroundings were the target of one of Ukraine’s most intense airstrikes, with the launch of 620 drones against the Moscow region in the early hours of August 18, 2026. This incident marks one of Kiev’s largest air offensives against Russian territory since the beginning of the conflict. Crimea, a peninsula annexed by Russia, also experienced power outages following the series of attacks.

Escalation in attacks and initial damage in Moscow

Russian air defenses managed to intercept 180 of the drones approaching the Moscow region. Emergency teams were called to the places where the fragments fell, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, without detailing victims or the exact extent of the damage.

Among the targets hit, a warehouse of Wildberries, a prominent Russian e-commerce company, was damaged, as well as other infrastructure on the outskirts of the capital. Regional governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed that at least three people, including a 10-year-old girl, were injured in the region. Wildberries, which has been repeatedly targeted in Kiev attacks, said the debris caused only minor damage to one of its walls.

Impact on Crimea and Moscow’s response

Other areas under Russian control, including Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, have also reported significant attacks from Ukraine. Krymenergo, the peninsula’s main energy distributor, confirmed that southern districts were left without electricity due to Ukrainian drone attacks overnight. The company warned that the electricity supply situation remains critical in the northwest, east and south areas of the region.

In response, Russia accused the United Kingdom of supplying Kiev with drones for the offensive and promised retaliatory measures. The intensity and coordination of the attacks underline Ukraine’s growing ability to strike targets inside Russian territory, raising tension in the conflict.