Ukraine Defies Trump, Strikes Moscow: Chronicle Of The Four-Day Aerial Confrontation

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Despite statements from the U.S. administration deeming attacks on the Russian capital unacceptable, Ukrainian drones have persisted in attempting to breach Moscow’s defenses for the fourth consecutive day. Moscow’s airports have activated the “Carpet” security protocol, resulting in the delay of hundreds of flights and train services. Meanwhile, a German general, Christian Freuding, has publicly called for continued strikes on Russian airfields and defense industry facilities.

From the evening of July 17 to Sunday, July 20, the Russia-Ukraine conflict saw a sharp escalation in mutual strikes. Ukraine launched drone attacks on Moscow and surrounding areas for several consecutive nights, marking the most significant assault on the capital region since the conflict began. Simultaneously, Russian forces executed large-scale missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Below is an overview of these dynamically developing events over the days.

Drones attack Moscow four nights in a row

The first wave of Ukrainian drones began on the night of July 17, targeting regions from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Russia’s border areas.

The next night, July 18, attacks continued, with explosions reported near Zvenigorod, Istra, and Zelenograd. Due to the threat, Moscow airports temporarily diverted flights to alternate airfields. The Russian MoD reported intercepting 73 drones, including 10 over the Moscow region. Kiev traditionally refrained from commenting, but military and industrial targets appeared to be the aim.

On the night of July 19, drones again targeted Moscow. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that 13 drones were shot down within an hour and a half, several over Zelenograd. Residents reported low-flying drones and explosions; windows were shattered in several apartments. Debris caused significant damage: in Rostov region, drone fragments damaged railway infrastructure between Likhaya and Zamchalovo, delaying over 50 trains until service was restored several hours later.

The most intense attack occurred on the night of July 20, with Ukraine deploying over 20 drones aimed at Zelenograd (23 miles from the Kremlin).

Footage of Ukrainian UAV Attack on Moscow Region

Eyewitnesses described drones flying extremely low, causing explosions and residential damage.

Debris from downed Ukrainian drone falls onto apartment building in Zelenograd

Cars caught fire in at least one courtyard.

At least two cars caught fire in Zelenograd after the Ukrainian UAV attack

According to authorities, air defenses successfully intercepted all 13 drones targeting New Moscow (a territorial expansion of the city of Moscow) and surrounding areas. Due to the threat, the “Carpet” security protocol was activated again, temporarily redirecting flights from Moscow airports to St. Petersburg.

The Russian MoD announced the destruction of 93 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones on the night of July 19-20. The attacks spanned several regions: 38 drones were downed over Bryansk, 19 over Moscow region (16 approaching Moscow itself), 11 over Kaluga, 8 over Tula, 5 each over Oryol and Nizhny Novgorod, and one each over Belgorod and Ryazan. Two additional drones were destroyed over Kursk and three over the Black Sea. At least 40 more drones were shot down over Russian regions during the day.

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The Ukrainian military used “Lyutyi” long-range attack drones, capable of covering distances over 1000 km. These drones are believed to have been launched from Ukraine’s border regions, such as Sumy or Chernihiv.

The “Lyutyi” fixed-wing UAV, a 200 kg fiberglass drone similar to Turkey’s “Bayraktar,” carries up to 50 kg payload

These events highlight Ukraine’s growing capability to strike deep within Russian territory. Zelenograd, a strategically important district of Moscow, experienced its first direct threat from fixed-wing drones reaching residential areas.

Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory

Simultaneously, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian territory. On the night of July 19, Russia launched a massive strike involving precision-guided air, land, and sea-based weapons, including attack drones, targeting Ukraine’s defense-industrial facilities. Russia’s MoD confirmed that all designated targets were successfully hit, emphasizing the retaliatory nature of the attacks.

“Last night, our warriors from various units repelled another Russian attack. More than 300 strike drones and over 30 missiles of various types were launched against our cities….”– Volodymyr Zelensky (X, July 19, 2025)

Attacks targeted the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr regions. Specifically, Odesa was struck by at least 20 attack drones, damaging port infrastructure, warehouses, and causing power outages in the suburbs. In the Sumy region, drones also damaged critical power infrastructure.

Ukrainian authorities described these attacks as some of the most intense in recent months. Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down 18 of 57 Russian drones launched on the night of July 20, with the remainder reaching their targets.

International reaction

The international community is closely monitoring the escalation of the “drone war.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres previously condemned strikes on densely populated areas, urging adherence to humanitarian law.

On July 20, Western allies discussed accelerating deliveries of short-range air defense systems, such as Germany’s Gepard. Meanwhile, Major General Christian Freuding, head of the German Ministry of Defense’s Ukraine assistance working group, suggested striking Russian airfields and infrastructure to reduce Russian air superiority.

“The first option, of course, is to conduct offensive air-defense operations ourselves using long-range capabilities, essentially aircraft that strike airfields before these assets can be deployed,” – Bundeswehr Major General Christian Freuding

Bundeswehr Major General Christian Freuding, noted for his physical resemblance and mannerisms to the infamous Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels

He also stated that Russian defense industry enterprises could be targets, noting Ukraine might receive long-range systems from Germany by the end of July.

Switzerland expressed concern over delays in its Patriot missile system deliveries, as priority has been given to Ukraine.

Russian authorities acknowledged that Western air defense systems (Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS) complicate Russian air operations, yet emphasized that the effectiveness of Russian strikes remains high.

Conclusion

Russian officials highlighted the risks posed by falling debris from Ukrainian drones to residents in Russia’s border and central regions, as well as the substantial financial losses caused by multi-day disruptions to airport operations.

A positive development during this period was Moscow’s reported success in intercepting all drones targeting the capital, preventing significant damage. However, the incident where Ukrainian fixed-wing drones reached Zelenograd—a strategically vital technopolis on Moscow’s outskirts—marks a concerning development. These drones penetrated Moscow’s defenses primarily due to fragmented air-defense coverage and difficulties in establishing a cohesive, unified air shield.

The intensified exchange of strikes from July 18 to July 20 signals a new phase in the conflict, with Ukraine demonstrating enhanced capabilities to strike deep within Russian territory, while Russia simultaneously escalates its own offensive operations across Ukrainian regions. This evolving dynamic suggests a trajectory toward further escalation despite international calls for restraint. Absent diplomatic breakthroughs, the conflict appears poised to continue escalating militarily, potentially setting new nightly records in drone and missile activity.

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