Ukraine breached three Moscow air defense lines, and Bars drones breached a fourth

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:04]Awesome. Analysts at Drone Bomber Plus reported that during the massive attack on Moscow, Ukrainian drones penetrated all four echelons of Moscow's air defenses. This is one of Russia's most heavily defended areas. Air defense systems are concentrated around the capital and according to analysts, the region's defenses were further strengthened before the May 9th parade.

[00:00:27]According to their assessment, confirmed hit points indicate that the drones penetrated deep defensive lines in Zelenagrad. Analysts claim the third and fourth air defense lines were breached after which the Elma technology park and the Angstre micro electronics plant came under attack in Capatna and Saul Necnagorsk. According to AENT analysts, drones penetrated the second and third air defense lines. There an attack was reported on the Moscow oil refinery and the Salknagor loading station. Reuters reported that Ukrainian drones were able to strike targets more than 500 km from the border despite dense Russian air defenses around Moscow. Separately, online reports point to the use of longrange drones, including jet powered ones. The Ukrainian bars, a long range UV, is mentioned. The main result of the attack wasn't just the number of drones launched. Ukraine demonstrated its ability to overwhelm Moscow's air defenses and extend some of its strikes to fuel and industrial facilities in the capital region. For the Kremlin, this is a painful signal. Even Russia's most secure airspace doesn't offer a complete guarantee, analysts conclude. The Security Service of Ukraine has published details of a drone strike on the Russian capital, the Moscow region, and occupied Crimea. The operation was carried out by the SBU's Alpha Special Forces Unit in cooperation with other components of the defense forces. for high priority targets were successfully struck in the Moscow region. The Moscow oil refinery, two oil pumping stations, Sonic Nagorskia and Voladar Skoy and the Angstrem Military Plant. The latter supplies semiconductors to the Russian military-industrial complex for which it is subject to US sanctions. In Crimea, the Belbec airfield became the key target. a Pancer S2 anti-aircraft system, a hanger housing an S400 radar, a control system for an Orion heavy drone, a forost UV ground control station, a control tower, and a groundto-air data link were destroyed there. Such attacks demonstrate that even the most secure Moscow region is no longer safe, said SBU Chief Yavan Kumar.

[00:02:47]He promised that strikes to weaken the aggressor would continue. Ukraine's attack on Moscow and the Moscow region on May 17th, 2026 was the most successful in the region since the beginning of full-scale Russian military aggression, reports Militari. The publication notes that overall, as of the spring of 2026, Moscow is covered by two dense rings of air defense systems in addition to several positions within the city itself. According to Oenter estimates, there are 130 anti-aircraft systems deployed in Moscow and the Moscow region. During the attack on Moscow, the Ukrainian defense forces reportedly managed to hit a number of targets, including the Angstre plant in the Moscow region city of Zelenrad.

[00:03:33]Analysts noted that this enterprise is an important component of the Russian military-industrial complex as it is involved in the production of micro electronics, radio electronics, optical systems and robotics for the Russian military. In addition, in Salcagorsk, an oil loading station was damaged in the village of Durkino, which is located approximately 30 to 45 km from the Russian capital. The Moscow oil refinery located in the Capotninsky district of the Russian capital was also attacked.

[00:04:08]The publication notes that of the three known successful hits, only one location, the Moscow oil refinery is located in Moscow itself behind two rings of air defense systems.

[00:04:20]Approximately 7 to 8 km from the nearest known pancer air defense missile system position. It is added that the Angstrum plant is located between the first and second air defense rings just over 2 km from the nearest known air defense position. The Sneak Nagorsk oil loading station is located farthest from Moscow.

[00:04:40]It is located close to the outer perimeter of the second ring 3 km from the air defense position. Analysts reported that 10 more recorded locations of debris falls, UV overflights, or impacts on high-rise buildings within the air defense perimeter were discovered and identified from open sources. In particular, six of them are located between the first and second rings and four are inside the first air defense ring. It is explained that these data indicate that Ukrainian drones have indeed successfully penetrated all Russian defensive lines in fairly significant numbers. The publication notes that the attack on Moscow on May 17th indicates that even an extremely high density of air defense systems does not provide a 100% guarantee of protection against a relatively small number of attack drones. The decisive factor in a successful defeat is not the quantity of resources, but above all reconnaissance to identify blind spots, route planning, and appropriate tactics of use. The article notes