VIDEO Anatomy of the attack that shook Moscow. How Ukraine's drones got past the dense air defense rings in the Russian capital
The Ukrainian drone attack that hit Moscow on Sunday morning was one of the most successful of the entire war, experts in Kiev claim. Analysts from the Ukrainian site “Militarnyi” point out that, despite a multi-level air defense system, some drones had already managed to penetrate the defenses of the Russian capital region. But on Sunday, things went further.
At least four people died on Sunday following a large-scale drone attack on some Russian regions, including Moscow. Three people died in the capital region and one in the Belgorod region, authorities said.
The attacks targeted infrastructure used in the war, but also residential areas, being, according to Zelensky, a revenge for Russia's previous massive attack on Ukraine.
How was it possible?
Ukrainian analysts say that the decisive factor for the success of an attack is not the number of drones, but primarily reconnaissance, for identifying “blind spots” in the Russian defense, route planning and appropriate employment tactics.
A strengthened anti-aircraft defense
As of spring 2026, Moscow is protected by two dense rings of air defense systems, beyond several positions located just inside the city.
According to the Osinter platform, there are 130 positions for anti-aircraft systems in and around the city.
The second ring of air defense positions was established as early as 2025 – between May and September, the Russians erected around 43 new specialized air defense towers around the capital.
Base of Defense: Pantsir Systems
The air defense base of the Russian capital consists of about a hundred “Pantsir-S1” anti-aircraft missile and gun systems and a small number of “Tor” air defense systems, designed to intercept Ukrainian drones and cruise missiles.
These are complemented by about 20 S-400 batteries designed to intercept cruise and ballistic missiles.
Not all established positions are necessarily active. But as of April 2026, observers verified the presence of at least 89 Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems within 50 kilometers of Moscow.
Airplanes and helicopters
To install air defense positions, the Russians use two types of structures: earthen embankments with a platform and an access road made of concrete slabs, as well as towers made of metal structures on which anti-aircraft systems are raised by cranes.
These structures are designed to house Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems to combat Ukrainian drones and missiles.
The use of such structures allows the detection and engagement range to be extended against small targets flying at low altitudes, as the visible horizon expands with increasing altitude.
In addition, a significant number of air defense systems are deployed in the region, away from the capital, to protect key defense industry companies, infrastructure and military installations.
In May 2026, they still do not form additional continuous defense lines at the entrances to the capital, but create numerous “danger zones” for Ukrainian drones.
The role of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Army Aviation, which intercepts some of the attack drones using fighter jets and helicopters, may also be important, and the general strengthening of air defenses ahead of the May 9 parade in Moscow also mattered.
What the drones hit
What is known, according to Ukrainian analysis, is that during the attack on Moscow, drones hit the “Angstrem” factory in Zelenograd, near Moscow. This plant is a key component of the Russian military-industrial complex and is involved in the production of microelectronics, radio-electronics, optical systems and robotics for Russia's military needs.
The drones also hit the Soniachnogorsk oil filling station in the village of Durikino, located about 40-45 kilometers from Moscow, and the Moscow Oil Refinery, located in the Kapotnenski district of the Russian capital.
In addition, the Security Service of Ukraine announced that it had hit the Volodarskoe oil pumping station in the village of Konstantinovo, located about 22 kilometers from the city's outskirts. However, there is currently no publicly available photographic or video evidence to confirm the attack.
120 drones used in Moscow
According to the 1st Center of Unmanned Systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, “more than” 120 drones were used in the attack on Moscow, which “in an instant shattered the myth of the enemy's “invincible” capital.”
According to the General Staff, Ukrainian-designed drones, namely Fire Point FP-1, RS-1 “Bars” jet drones and the previously unknown GLADIATOR “BARS-SM” drone were used to strike targets in the Moscow region.
How far have drones come?
Of the three known successful hits, only one location – the Moscow oil refinery – is located inside Moscow, behind the two rings of air defense systems, approximately 7–8 kilometers from the nearest known position of the “Pantsir” air defense system.
The Angstrom plant is located between the first and second air defense rings, just over two kilometers from the nearest known air defense position, according to Militarnyi analysts.
The furthest from Moscow is the Soniachno-Gorskaia oil loading station, located right next to the outer perimeter of the second ring and three kilometers from an anti-aircraft defense position.
At the same time, open sources have identified and precisely located ten additional locations where debris falls, drone flights or strikes on high-rise buildings inside the air defense perimeter have been recorded.
Six of these are between the first and second rings, and four are inside the first air defense ring.
Militarnyi writes that this indicates that Ukrainian drones have successfully penetrated all Russian defense lines in significant numbers.
What mattered more in the success of the attack
Ukrainian analysts said the attack on Moscow demonstrates that even an extremely high density of air defense systems does not provide a guarantee of 100 percent protection against drones.
At the same time, they said, the decisive factor for the success of an attack is not the number of resources, but primarily reconnaissance, to identify “blind spots”, route planning and appropriate employment tactics.
On the morning of May 16, Moscow was also attacked by drones, prompting the Russian capital's airports to temporarily suspend operations.
The partisan movement “ATESH” claimed responsibility for a sabotage operation in the Moscow region that disrupted the operation of some elements of the Russian air defense system on the outskirts of the capital.
