On the night of May 17, Ukrainian drones targeted several locations in Russia’s Moscow region, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. He characterized the strikes as a justified response to ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
In a message on Telegram, Zelensky noted that the drones traveled over 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border to reach their targets. He stated, “This time, Ukrainian long-range sanctions have reached the Moscow region, and we clearly tell the Russians: their state must end its war. I am grateful to the Security Service of Ukraine and all Defense Forces for their accuracy… The concentration of Russian air defense in the Moscow region is the highest, but we are overcoming it.”
Reports from local residents in various Moscow region cities emerged early on May 17, indicating drone attacks. Preliminary information suggests that the strikes affected a semiconductor manufacturing plant, Angstrom, and the Elma tech park in Zelenograd, as well as a fuel depot in the Sunflower area. Additionally, operations at Sheremetyevo Airport were temporarily halted.
Residential areas were also impacted, with drone strikes reported in Khimki, Zelenograd, and Moscow, hitting apartment buildings.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 12 individuals were injured due to the drone strikes, which also damaged the entrance to the Moscow Oil Refinery. Meanwhile, Governor Andrei Vorobyov of the Moscow region indicated that there were fatalities and injuries in the area, along with damage to residential structures.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that their air defense systems shot down 556 Ukrainian drones over various regions, including Belgorod, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Bryansk, Voronezh, Tula, Smolensk, Pskov, Lipetsk, Tver, Rostov, Krasnodar, the Moscow region, and the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as over the Black and Azov Seas.
Ukrainian drones launched a significant strike on the Moscow region on May 17, targeting military and civilian sites. President Zelensky confirmed the operation as a response to ongoing Russian attacks, resulting in injuries and damage across multiple locations.