Series of Blasts Rock Rostov Region
Drone attacks on Russian regions have been a recurring issue since 2022, particularly in the Moscow City business center and the Rostov region, where five explosions occurred in the villages of Kalinin and Shakhty. This escalating drone conflict has marked a significant shift towards large-scale drone warfare, impacting both military and civilian domains.
2022: The conflict, starting shortly after Russia’s 24 February invasion of Ukraine, saw drone attacks targeting Russian military infrastructure. Notable incidents include the alleged launch of drones from Ukraine striking Dyagilevo and Engels air bases in western Russia, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals and significant damage to strategic bombers.
September 2024: The escalation continued with Ukraine conducting large-scale drone attacks on Russian territory. On 1 September, over 100 drones targeted the Konakovo Power Station and Moscow Refinery. A massive attack with 144 drones on Moscow on the 10th of September resulted in home damages and two fatalities, marking the largest drone strike on Russia during the war. The GRAU 107th Ammunition Depot in Toropets was attacked on the 18th, causing massive explosions, injuries, and evacuation orders. The blast was equivalent to 200–240 tonnes of TNT and triggered fires over 13 km²; about 30,000 tonnes of munitions reportedly exploded. Drone strikes hit two more Russian ammo depots in Tver Oblast and Krasnodar Krai on the 21st of September.
June 1, 2025: Ukraine's "Operation Spider's Web" employed smuggled drones to attack Russian air bases deep inside Russia, reportedly damaging or destroying up to 41 high-value aircraft including strategic bombers.
July 2025: Russia responded with over 6,000 drone attacks recorded in July alone, a record monthly high. The country has also been building drone production capacity, producing around 2,700 Shahed drones per month and planning launches of between 1,000 and 2,000 drones simultaneously in the near future.
Official responses: Russian authorities have reported damage, injuries, and fatalities from Ukrainian strikes and ordered evacuations in targeted areas. Ukraine has emphasized the effectiveness of its drone operations, demonstrated in large-scale attacks and strategic targeting of Russian military facilities. The UN and humanitarian agencies have highlighted the humanitarian impact of these drone and missile strikes, noting rising civilian casualties and infrastructure damage both within Ukraine and affecting Russian border areas indirectly.
In August 2023, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian president's office, Mikhail Podolyak, stated that the number of drone strikes on Russia "will increase". However, Kyiv has not officially confirmed its involvement in the drone attacks on Russia. Recent explosions, such as the one at the Pskov airport on August 30, setting fire to Il-76 military transport planes, are part of this ongoing drone conflict.
The Ukrainian military began actively attacking Russian airports in 2025, causing mass flight delays. Targets also include the bordering Bryansk, Belgorod, and Kursk regions and the Republic of Crimea. Local residents in these regions have reported flashes in the sky, suspected to be from drone attacks.
This evolving drone conflict reflects a shift toward large-scale drone warfare with increasing technological sophistication and scale, impacting military and civilian domains through 2025. The recent increase in drone strikes on Russia, as stated by Mikhail Podolyak in August 2023, suggests a potential escalation of the conflict. Drone attacks on Russian regions began in 2022, against the backdrop of a special military operation in Ukraine. The drones were downed in Tarasovsky and Sholokhovsky districts, according to the acting governor of the region, Yuri Slyusar.
- Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, the use of drones in military operations has marked a significant shift in politics, with both nations upscaling their drone production capabilities.
- The increase in general-news regarding drone attacks on Russian regions, as highlighted by Mikhail Podolyak in August 2023, indicates a potential escalation in the conflict, underscoring the increasing impact of drone warfare on military and civilian domains.
