Drones over Moscow: War comes home, Russians grow angry

Zelenograd and Khimki, Russia — When Elena Vladimirovna woke up around four in the morning to a loud buzzing sound over her apartment near Moscow, she looked outside and saw several drones in the sky. The noise faded, and she thought the danger had passed. Then a loud explosion hit nearby. “Below…” she started, but could not finish. The attack is part of a series of deadly Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil. For many Russians, the war is no longer a distant event. It is now happening in their neighborhoods. These strikes are causing fear and anger. Discontent is growing among the population. People who once supported the war are now questioning its cost. The drones hit military and infrastructure targets. But they also kill civilians. The sound of explosions is becoming common in cities that were once safe. Elena Vladimirovna’s experience is not unique. Across the Moscow region, residents are waking up to new realities. The war has come home, and the mood is changing.