Moscow keeps calm and carries on after strikes on city
George Stevens* and his wife were woken early on Tuesday morning by a series of explosions.
“We heard a couple of loud bangs about 4am that sounded like a car backfiring,” said the British expat, who lives with his family in the upmarket Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk. “We saw a puff of smoke rising from the ground.”
Krasnogorsk was among the targets of a swarm of drones that hit Moscow, with more than a dozen recorded impacts – although Russian authorities claim every one was shot down – in the largest attack on the capital since the start of the war.
No serious injuries were reported. The drones that landed in Krasnogorsk crashed in a field, says Mr Stevens.
The emergency response has caused more disruption, the Englishman adds, with GPS systems – that could be used by enemy drones – jammed across the capital.
“GPS used to be jammed around the Kremlin and other central areas but now they have jammed the whole city, so if you use satellite navigation, you’ve got a problem,” he says.
A heavier police presence was reported in Moscow on Tuesday morning with officers conducting security checks in public areas. But the drone strikes, the latest in a series of attacks inside Russia, including a cross-border raid on Belgorod and a drone exploding on the Kremlin roof, have not spooked the population.
“Everyone in the office is quite calm – at least outwardly,” said Mr Stevens, who works for a shipping company.
The attacks have not raised alarm as local people have lived through worse, says Daniil Alekseev, who lives in Moscow.
“We had two Chechen wars with loads of young lads dying, with buses and tubes blown up every week – that was scary,” he said. “But a drone? No one cares.”
Some Russian military analysts suggested the swarm of drones could be useful if it prompts Muscovites to become more committed to the war effort. Mr Alekseev said there was widespread anger among local people in internet forums.
“They want West Ukraine in ruins,” he said. “One said ‘if one more drone reaches Moscow we should use a nuclear bomb.’”
Maria Petrova, who also lives in the capital, said there was some concern at the war reaching Moscow but no panic.
“There are people who are concerned, it depends on personality,” she said. “If you are scared you can leave the country – if not, just face it.”
Ms Petrova added that she believed the security situation was “under control” by the authorities but said she would not be surprised by further attacks. “We understand what is going on and we are ready for anything.”
Another Muscovite, speaking anonymously, said the prevailing mood was normal as many Russians have adapted to the war by trying to ignore it, with even attacks on the capital barely acknowledged.
The typical attitude is, “Didn’t hit my apartment, didn’t kill my family member, doesn’t affect my life,” he said.
*Name changed to protect identity
