In the early hours of Tuesday, Ukrainian drones struck high-rise apartment buildings on the outskirts of Moscow, marking what both sides have described as the largest attack on the Russian capital since the conflict began three years ago. The attack, which killed at least two people and injured several others, is the latest in a series of confrontations that have escalated tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

The Kremlin swiftly condemned the assault, which took place just hours before high-level talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. The timing was significant, as it followed three years of Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. Kyiv, however, framed the attack as a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to accept Ukraine’s call for a cessation of long-range aerial strikes—a proposal Moscow has consistently rejected.

At least two people were reported dead, including a 50-year-old man and a 38-year-old security guard, with the Russian Ministry of Health stating that six others were hospitalized, including a child and one person in critical condition. Russian authorities also claimed that they intercepted 337 Ukrainian drones across the country, including the largest-ever drone attack on Moscow. Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, confirmed the scale of the assault, calling it the most significant enemy drone attack on the capital.

The drones targeted several residential buildings in Moscow’s outskirts, causing significant damage. AFP reporters on the scene witnessed holes on upper floors of apartment blocks, with broken glass and debris scattered across the streets. Residents described a chaotic scene. Yevgenia Bakatuyeva, a 38-year-old resident of one of the hit buildings, recounted the terror: “We were sleeping, there was an explosion, the children screamed. I opened my door, and all the neighbors jumped out. Somebody was in blood,” she said. Artyom, a 34-year-old car salesman, added that it was “scary when in real life,” referring to the horror of witnessing such an attack firsthand.

While Ukraine has previously targeted Moscow, attacks so far from the front lines are rare. The capital had no air raid alert or siren during the assault, although Russian aviation authorities temporarily closed four major airports serving Moscow in response to the drone strike. The drones were intercepted across various regions, including Moscow and the Kursk area, where Russia’s military is engaged in a cross-border conflict with Ukrainian forces.

In response to the attack, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case, calling it a “terrorist attack.” Meanwhile, local authorities in the Vladimir region, located around 200 kilometers east of Moscow, evacuated a village of about 800 people after two drones were shot down there.

For Ukraine, this attack is a significant escalation. Ukrainian officials described it as the “largest drone attack in history,” claiming it lasted throughout the night and into the morning. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s National Security Council’s Center for Countering Disinformation, said the attack was a clear signal to Putin: “This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air.”

Ukraine is also using the attack to push forward its diplomatic agenda. The Ukrainian government plans to present a proposal for a partial ceasefire to the United States, hoping to gain further support from its key ally. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will attend the talks in Saudi Arabia, expressed some openness to the idea. However, Russia has consistently rejected the notion of partial ceasefires, making any potential peace talks challenging.

The situation remains tense on both sides. As the drone strikes continued in Moscow, Russia launched a retaliatory missile and drone barrage targeting Ukraine, with explosions reported in Kyiv. In the eastern town of Kostiantynivka, a bomb attack wounded four people, according to Ukrainian officials.

The ongoing conflict, marked by aerial assaults on both civilian and military targets, shows no signs of de-escalation. The recent escalation in Moscow highlights the increasing risks for civilians and the growing complexity of peace negotiations that have failed to yield results thus far. As both sides prepare for talks, the question remains: will a ceasefire or resolution to the war be achieved, or will this devastating conflict continue to ravage the region?