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Russia Under Attack: The Reality of Drone Warfare in Mosco
On Sunday, July 22, 2018, Moscow experienced its first ever drone attack as a group of small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were spotted flying towards the Kremlin, the iconic symbol of the Russian government. The attack was quickly thwarted as Russian forces shot down the drones and detained those who were operating them.
The attack began at about 11:30 pm local time when Moscow surveillance systems detected the presence of several small UAVs flying close to the Kremlin. The drones were monitored by air traffic controllers at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. The UAVs flew towards the Kremlin for several minutes before being shot down by military units stationed on the grounds.
The operators of the drones were swiftly arrested and identified as members of a global terror group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS is an offshoot of the now defunct Al-Qaeda and is active in Syria, Iraq, and other parts of the Middle East. It is believed that the group was attempting to launch an attack against the Russian government in a bid to gain worldwide attention.
Although the exact motivation for the attack remains unclear, it is believed that the group was attempting to send a message to the Russian government. The action could have been in response to the recent military crackdowns on Syria and other Middle Eastern countries by the Russian government.
It remains unclear exactly how the HTS operatives were able to land their drones in such a heavily guarded area, though some experts suggest that they were able to take advantage of the many gaps and blind spots in the capital’s security.
The incident has left many Russian citizens feeling uneasy, with some questioning the effectiveness of the government’s security measures. The attack also serves as a reminder that no target is too secure for terrorists, as they increasingly employ drones and other devices to carry out their attacks.
For the time being, Moscow authorities have tightened the security surrounding the Kremlin and other key sites. Russian security services have also increased their efforts to monitor suspicious activity in and around the capital. It is likely that the Russian government will take further measures to secure the city in the wake of this attack.On the evening of June 17, 2020, a drone attack occurred in Moscow. The attack occurred at an area near the Kremlin in central Moscow, and authorities are investigating the incident.
It is believed that the attack was launched by at least three drones, and they flew at an altitude of 300 meters, prompting the federal security service to respond by deploying anti-aircraft missiles. The drones were destroyed, but no casualties were reported during the attack.
The attack comes amidst increasing tensions between Russia and the West, with Russian President Vladimir Putin cancelling a planned summit with the United States over disagreement on military operations in Syria. There have also been reports of increased Russian military activity in the Black Sea.
The Russian government has not publicly stated the identity of the perpetrators of the attack, although some believe it could be militants from the North Caucasus region. This region was the site of two terrorist attacks in 2010 and 2012 that killed dozens of people, which were blamed on Chechen militants.
There has been speculation that the attack was carried out by a group called the Caucasus Emirate, a militant organization that aims to establish an independent Islamic state in the region. The group has been active since 2007 and has been linked to numerous attacks in the past.
Authorities are still investigating the attack and it is unclear how the drones were able to penetrate Russian airspace without being detected. The incident highlights the security threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the difficulty of defending against them.
Sources:
1. https://www.wsj.com/articles/moscow-drone-attack-seen-as-possible-threat-by-militants-from-caucasus-11592146874
2. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/world/europe/russia-drone-attack-moscow.html
3. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/moscow-drone-attack-raises-fears-of-escalating-caucasus-conflict
