Ukraine turns up the heat on Moscow

Published May 18, 2026 2:09pm ET | Updated May 18, 2026 2:09pm ET



Over the weekend, Ukraine launched its largest drone assault on Moscow since the start of the war in February 2022. It deployed more than 500 drones in coordinated waves that kept Russian air defenses firing through the night and into the morning. Targets included military-industrial plants and fuel infrastructure across Moscow Oblast. The strikes hit a semiconductor plant, a sanctioned facility supplying components to Russia’s war machine, along with the Moscow Oil Refinery and two fuel pumping stations.

The scale of this attack was also apparent in the debris from drones that Russian forces were able to shut down. This debris landed across multiple residential districts, killing at least three people in the Moscow region. Sheremetyevo Airport, Russia’s busiest air hub, reported debris on its grounds, while around 200 flights were delayed or canceled.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.