Ukraine drone assault signals high-stakes diplomacy shift
Following the most significant drone attack on Moscow, which resulted in several fatalities, Russian politicians and commentators are threatening to utilise the Oreshnik in propaganda statements. Ukraine, having sent over 300 drones, is also negotiating with the USA, demonstrating that it holds strong cards, says Dr Wojciech Siegień, an expert on Russia from the University of Gdańsk.
- The drone attack on Moscow is not merely a signal to Russia. In this manner, Ukraine is establishing a negotiating stance with Donald Trump. They are illustrating that - irrespective of American support - they possess the capability to carry out substantial attacks on the Russian capital, says Dr Wojciech Siegień, an expert in Russian propaganda analysis and the author of the podcast "Eastern Block" on Political Criticism website, to WP.
- The complexity of the negotiations lies in the fact that Ukraine must also engage with the Americans. They are signalling: we are not afraid, so you should not be afraid to set high expectations for the Russians. The attack serves as an argument to advocate for stopping aerial assaults - comments the interlocutor.
On Tuesday, a meeting took place in Saudi Arabia between Ukrainians and the American delegation. This meeting serves as a precursor to discussions on the conditions for ending the war in Ukraine. Several hours earlier, Ukraine decided to launch over 300 drones towards Moscow.
Ukraine attacks Moscow
Ukraine stated that the drone attack on Moscow should exert pressure on Putin to accept the missile ceasefire proposal made a few days ago. "The largest drone attack in history was conducted on Moscow and the Moscow region. This is an additional signal for Putin that he should also be interested in ceasing fire in the air," said Andrij Kovalenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that on the night of 10 to 11 March, Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 337 Ukrainian drones, 126 of which were over the Kursk region, bordering Ukraine. The sustained wave of drones reached Moscow, where according to Russian sources 91 machines were shot down. According to the governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, at least three people died in the Moscow region, and 14 were injured.
The fatalities include a security guard working for a company at Domodedovo Airport, as well as a 38-year-old man in a car park in front of a meat factory. According to the Russians, four people are also victims of the drones being shot down over the Kursk region. "This is the most substantial Ukrainian drone attack on Russian regions during the entire Russian-Ukrainian war," Russian media describe.
Russian revenge. Will they use the Oreshnik rocket again?
The Evening Moscow service reports that Russian State Duma politicians have urged Putin to initiate an urgent strike on Ukraine using the Oreshnik ballistic missile. "The decision will be made by the commander-in-chief, but I consider it necessary to launch Oreshnik, perhaps even several," Andrei Kartapolov, a former military figure and head of the defence committee in parliament, told journalists.
He called the extensive drone raid on Moscow a "pure propaganda move." According to him, the attack had no military objectives and was timed to coincide with negotiations with the USA in Saudi Arabia. He threatened: - They show they can do something, so they must be extinguished, destroyed, and brought to order, nothing more.
- Politicians or propagandists who make such threats have no influence on the decision regarding the type of possible response. Their task is only to stoke emotions in the media - comments Dr Wojciech Siegień.
He notes that Russian propaganda capitalised on the presence of Feridun H. Sinirlioglu, the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in Moscow. The official was escorted through Moscow's block districts where the destruction was displayed to him.
- The contrast of this situation was downright embarrassing. The destruction in Moscow consists of damaged facades of blocks and some burnt vehicles. Recently, Russia has shelled Ukraine, reducing entire buildings to rubble. Yet, this is now a normal situation and no official guest was given a tour of the rubble in Ukraine – Dr Wojciech Siegień continues.
Describing Russian threats, Ukrainian media recall that on 21 November 2024, Russian troops shelled the city of Dniepr with missiles. It was during this event that Russia used the Oreshnik intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for an attack for the first time. The system was not equipped with a "nuclear hypersonic warhead" - Putin commented on the same day.
