Drone Attack Hits Skyscraper in Moscow, Ukraine Continues to Face Attacks
July 24, 2023 at 1:32 a.m. EDT
In a shocking incident, a drone struck a large skyscraper in downtown Moscow early Monday, causing damage to the building. Russian officials reported that the drone shattered glass on the 17th and 18th floors of the high-rise. Another drone wreckage was found on a central thoroughfare in Moscow. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that two nonresidential buildings were struck, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
This drone attack comes after a series of attacks on Ukraine’s Odessa region. Drones targeted port infrastructure along the Danube River, resulting in injuries to six people and the destruction of a grain hangar, according to Oleh Kiper, the regional governor.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Moscow downed the drones using electronic means and blamed Ukraine for the incident, labeling it a “terrorist attack.” Drone strikes are rare in the Russian capital, and a similar attack on residential buildings earlier this year was seen as a precursor to further escalation in the ongoing war. While Ukraine denied responsibility for the May drone attack, it had a significant impact on Russians who witnessed the war’s hostilities reaching residential areas for the first time.
In Odessa, the overnight drone attack lasted for four hours, Ukrainian officials revealed on Telegram. This attack is part of a series of ongoing assaults in the port region since Russia withdrew from a U.N.-backed grain export deal. Prior to the drone attack, several parts of the southern Ukrainian port city were razed in a bombardment, resulting in the death of at least one person and injuries to 21 individuals, including four children.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated during a CNN interview that Ukraine has managed to reclaim about half of the land initially seized by Russia. However, he cautioned that the counteroffensive is still in its early stages and there is a challenging path ahead.
In terms of military developments, Ukrainian pilots are set to begin training with F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft developed by the U.S. Air Force next month. The country’s defense minister mentioned that the training sessions may take place in multiple European countries. However, Blinken warned that it could take several months before the F-16s are delivered and operational. The White House had previously agreed to allow allied nations to send advanced fighter jets to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that a lack of munitions forced Ukraine to delay a counteroffensive planned for the spring. He explained that there were insufficient armaments and properly trained brigades to carry out the operation.
The war in Ukraine is having a global impact as well. Unilever, a British multinational packaged goods company with approximately 3,000 workers in Russia, announced that it will allow its Russian employees to be conscripted if called to fight. The company’s chief business operations and supply chain officer, Reginaldo Ecclissato, stated that Unilever condemns the war in Ukraine as a brutal and senseless act by the Russian state.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko recently met in St. Petersburg to discuss their nations’ “strategic partnership,” as reported by Russian state media. This meeting took place just two days after Putin warned that any attack against Belarus would be considered an attack against Russia.
In a statement posted by the Kremlin, Putin accused Western partners of the Black Sea grain deal of failing to address global food insecurity. He argued that high- and middle-income countries benefited from the exports shipped under the deal, while African nations did not receive the same advantages. The United Nations, which helped broker the deal, has argued that it allows more grain to enter the global market, thereby lowering food prices worldwide.
In an analysis by our correspondents, the moral dilemma of sending cluster munitions to Ukraine is discussed. Ukraine has been using U.S.-provided cluster munitions against Russian targets, a move that raises ethical concerns. While these bombs are banned in 123 countries, including most NATO member countries, the United States, Russia, and Ukraine are not signatories to the convention prohibiting their use. The Biden administration recently agreed to dispatch cluster munitions to Ukraine, which could provide an advantage on the battlefield but comes with a significant cost.
The war in Ukraine continues to escalate, with drone attacks in Moscow and ongoing assaults in the Odessa region. The global impact of the conflict is evident, with companies like Unilever making decisions regarding their employees, and leaders like Putin and Lukashenko discussing their strategic partnership. As the situation unfolds, the use of cluster munitions raises moral questions and adds complexity to the conflict.
What are the long-term effects of the devastating conflict on the socio-economic development of the affected communities
Devastating conflict.
This incident serves as a chilling reminder of the increasing vulnerability of major cities to drone attacks. The use of drones to target infrastructure is deeply concerning and raises serious concerns about the potential escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. It is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize peaceful negotiations and find a solution to avoid further devastating consequences.