Ukraine launched a large-scale strike on the Moscow region ahead of Putin’s visit to China
On the eve of Vladimir Putin’s trip to China, Ukraine launched one of the largest strikes on the Moscow region since the start of the full-scale war. The attack resulted in fires at infrastructure sites, whilst around 200 flights were cancelled or delayed at Sheremetyevo Airport.
For years, there has been one consistent pattern in this war. Time and again, on the eve of important international meetings, Russia has shelled Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in an attempt to demonstrate its strength and put pressure on the negotiation process.
The Kremlin used missiles and drones as a tool of geopolitical blackmail whilst the whole world watched the diplomatic arena.
This weekend, everything changed dramatically.
Ukraine launched the largest and deadliest strike on the Moscow region since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. And it happened, symbolically, on the eve of Putin’s visit to China. The same scenario, the same geopolitical moment, but there is a nuance.
It was a wholly justified response to the protracted war and attacks on Ukrainian cities and communities, underscoring that Ukrainian manufacturers of drones and missiles are continuing their work.
The distance to the targets exceeded 500 kilometres, and this is particularly significant, as the Moscow region is the most heavily equipped with air defence systems in the whole of Russia.
The consequences of the strike were felt in the aggressor’s capital: black smoke rose above an oil terminal and the Moscow Oil Refinery, whilst at Sheremetyevo Airport, around 200 flights were delayed or cancelled.
Well, the war is returning to its ‘home port’
And on the eve of Putin’s meeting with Xi, the whole world saw not a victor and master of the situation, claiming that everything is going according to plan
Instead of triumphant photographs with Xi Jinping, the Russian dictator is flying to Beijing with burning buildings in his own capital and cancelled flights at the main airport.
International media are already noting the atmosphere of growing anxiety within Russia, describing a cloud of unease gathering over the country.
From now on, a new signal has emerged for the world in this war.
And that is a good thing. Now we need to amplify this signal
We are waiting for new strikes
All articles in the "Opinion" section are published in full from their original sources. The editorial team may not share the authors’ views and accepts no responsibility for their statements.
