(MOSCOW) – The Russian capital and several industrial regions have been plunged into significant disorder following a sustained and unprecedented wave of Ukrainian drone strikes. Since the beginning of 2026, Kyiv has shifted its focus toward a strategy of asymmetric production paralysis, targeting the very infrastructure that sustains the Russian war machine. This escalation has effectively brought the conflict to the doorstep of the Russian elite, challenging the Kremlin’s narrative of internal security and stability.
The disruption in Moscow reached a peak between 3 January and 4 January, when the “Carpet Plan”, a high priority emergency protocol, was activated across major aviation hubs. Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports were forced to suspend operations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in terminals during the busy Orthodox Christmas holiday period. Ukrainian sources indicate that approximately 300 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were deployed in a single night, part of a broader offensive that saw over 500 drones penetrate Russian airspace.
Beyond the capital, the strikes have dealt a severe blow to the energy sector, which serves as the primary financial engine for the Russian dictator’s military ambitions. In the Samara region, long-range drones struck the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery, specifically targeting distillation towers to maximise operational damage. Further south, the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in Krasnodar was hit, halting critical energy exports through the Black Sea.