Largest Ukrainian Drone Attack on Moscow: Residents Share Fear, Anger, and Helplessness

On the night of June 18, Moscow and the surrounding region experienced the largest Ukrainian drone attack of the war so far. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said nearly 200 drones were shot down. An oil refinery in Kapotnya caught fire, and drones struck the Sadovod market and the Mega Belaya Dacha shopping mall. Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported 17 people injured, including two children.

Meduza readers in and around Moscow shared their reactions. Natalya, from Moscow, admitted she previously felt sympathy for Ukrainians, but during the attack, living near the refinery, she encountered neighbors calling for bombing Kyiv. She painfully realizes that people see no reason to stop the bloodshed.

Sergei from Moscow said he no longer cares; his world has shrunk to his family. He feels like a cockroach trying to survive, without hope or compassion, blaming both authorities and Russian citizens' mindset.

Nadezhda from Tekstilshchiki lives in fear as strikes are close to her home. She notes that her child's daycare is unprepared and there are no shelters. Artyom from Lyubertsy was shocked by the lack of warnings—he woke to drone sounds and explosions. He considers leaving Russia with his family.

Irina from Moscow's Southeastern Administrative District says the refinery strike was only a matter of time. Her hatred of the war intensifies as people lose their future. Polina from Teply Stan believes the war is coming back to where it started and is grateful Ukraine targets military sites.

Marina from Maryino has a mixed view: scared for the environment and people, but feeling it's deserved. She never hated Ukrainians and still doesn't.

Vasily from Zelenograd notes drones have become common; he watches from his window, though unsafe. He fears for his child, whose room faces drone direction. He finds it funny that no one achieves anything at the front, so they try to worsen ordinary people's lives.

Anatoly from northern Moscow feels safe as drones rarely reach his area. He even welcomes the strikes, as they undermine the regime and may accelerate the war's end. Yuri from Ramenskoye points out that Russia's "second-best army" failed to protect a strategic site. He feels schadenfreude that "vatniks" will suffer, but knows he will too.

Overall, readers express fear, anger, helplessness, and a growing desire for the war to end, alongside criticism of authorities for failing to inform and protect civilians.