On Wednesday, the Russian air defense shot down 11 drones in and around Moscow, described by the city’s mayor as one of the “largest attacks ever.” The incident occurred as Ukraine continues its strikes within Russian territory. To the south, near the Ukrainian border, Kyiv’s troops are advancing through the Kursk region, while rocket fire and artillery continue to hit the city of Belgorod, resulting in several civilian casualties. The war has significantly impacted border areas, and state-controlled media has called for unity among the population.
Many have drawn parallels to World War II, where Kursk was a key battleground between Soviet and Nazi forces. A banner at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don bore the message: “Kursk, all of Russia stands with you.” Similar messages appeared in the form of candles set up in the main square in Krasnodar.
Numerous assistance initiatives have been launched for the conflict-stricken regions and the thousands of Russians displaced by the fighting. Volunteers are collecting emergency relief for internally displaced persons in larger cities like St. Petersburg, where donations are transported to relief centers in the Kursk region.
The bombardments of Belgorod have not been forgotten. “It’s impossible to break the people of Belgorod,” said Margarita Lisnichaya, a political researcher originally from the city, in an interview with Al Jazeera. “The residents are holding a stoic resistance against the enemy’s attacks and choose to stay in their homes. People know they are at home, and all of Russia supports them.”
Ukrainian drones have consistently hit Moscow throughout the conflict, including an attack on the Kremlin last year, which Russian authorities labeled a “terrorist attack.” Since then, however, the element of surprise appears to have diminished, and the drones, which rarely harm Muscovites directly, now evoke far less alarm.
David, a Muscovite in his late thirties working in academia, remarked, “In my circles, they hardly said anything [about Wednesday’s incident]. From what I can see – just sarcasm. They are sitting in their offices, smiling to themselves: ‘Oh, this is just another ordinary delivery,’ ‘Nothing interesting so far.’” His friend Dima added, “I don’t know, everyone was asleep when it happened. No one even reads the news about it anymore.”
40-year-old Luna, a hat maker, noted, “For me, it wasn’t something to talk about, especially since they apparently didn’t even land. Personally, I am not nervous. It will hit us, or it won’t; there’s no reason to worry. But I live near a hydropower station, so maybe there are reasons to be concerned.”
As part of Kyiv’s offensive and to complicate Russia’s war efforts, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted facilities such as oil refineries and other infrastructure.