Russia's Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 27 Ukrainian drones during a coordinated series of attacks across multiple regions, including Bryansk, Smolensk, Kaluga, and Belgorod. The strikes are the latest in what observers describe as Kiev's evolving strategy to hit strategic targets deep inside Russian territory.

According to the ministry, the first wave of attacks occurred between 09:40 and 11:50 Moscow time. "On July 5, between 09:40 and 11:50 Moscow time, duty air defense systems eliminated 12 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles: nine over the Bryansk Region, two over the Smolensk Region, and one over the Kaluga Region," the official statement read.

A second round followed just hours later. "During the next wave (from 11:50 to 13:50 Moscow time), air defenses eliminated another 15 drones: 11 over the Bryansk Region, three over the Smolensk Region, and one over the Belgorod Region," the ministry added.

Moscow's mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, separately confirmed that two drones approaching the capital had also been intercepted and destroyed. This was in addition to two earlier UAVs brought down over the wider Moscow region.

Drone War Deepens

The intensification of Ukrainian long-range drone attacks comes in the wake of what has been described as a strategic shift in the conflict. Ukrainian forces recently struck as far as Izhevsk—over 1,300 kilometers from the front lines—killing three and injuring dozens at a defense facility. These deep-strike capabilities reflect Kiev's growing reliance on asymmetric tactics, especially amid delays in Western military support and Patriot missile shipments.

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Meanwhile, Russia has been bolstering its air defenses and warning of a broader response. US officials have stated they expect Russia's retaliation to unfold in "multiple phases," potentially signaling an escalation in the already protracted war.

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Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel, with French President Emmanuel Macron urging ceasefire talks in recent conversations with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. However, the Kremlin insists the conditions for serious negotiations are not yet in place, especially as drone strikes push deeper into Russian territory.

Militarized Europe

In parallel to these military developments, Russia has intensified warnings about what it sees as a shifting security landscape in Europe. On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Rossiya 24 that the militarization of the European Union is fundamentally altering Russia’s view of the bloc.

"We see that the militarization of the European Union is taking place. This qualitatively changes our attitude towards him, and this, of course, is taken into account in our military construction," Grushko said during the interview.

Grushko noted that should the EU establish a defense structure similar to NATO, Russia would perceive it as a direct military threat, stressing that "If the EU creates an organization like NATO, we will have to deal with a new military structure that directly poses a threat to us."

Although he doubts the likelihood of an independent NATO-style alliance forming within the EU, he argued that the bloc is shifting from a peaceful union to a militarized structure, adding that "I doubt very much that an independent NATO can appear. The truth is that the EU is turning from such a peaceful project into something resembling a very aggressive military bloc."

This transformation is evident not only in military investments and defense capabilities but also in the EU's ideological orientation, according to Grushko, emphasizing that Russia is closely monitoring these changes and factoring them into its military planning.

Read more: 69 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight: Russian MoD