Nato officials believe Ukraine’s drone strikes on Moscow are threatening Vladimir Putin’s grip on power, as a fresh attack on Russian-occupied Crimea knocked out electricity in its largest city. The Russian president is perceived to be under significant domestic pressure after Kyiv’s drones overwhelmed air defences and destroyed a major oil refinery in the capital last week, according to senior Nato officials who rarely make public statements about internal Russian politics. The assault, the largest aerial onslaught since the war began in February 2022, forced the Kremlin to pull air defence units from the front lines to protect Moscow. Days earlier, a similar strike hit St Petersburg, where another refinery was struck.
Putin has been desperate to shelter his population from the reality of war, which Nato says has killed 500,000 Russians. Kyiv claims it is killing or wounding 30,000 enemy troops each month. “There are clear signs as Russia loses ground and their economy struggles that the mood in Moscow is turning against Putin’s war,” Sir Keir Starmer said at the E5 summit alongside European leaders, urging more sanctions and military support for Ukraine. Air Chief Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer, Nato’s deputy supreme allied commander Europe, signalled the situation was dire: “If I were him, I would be looking at my options because they do not look good.” He said Russia had suffered a “series of setbacks” and warned that Nato’s response must be “proportionate, measured but firm”.
“Nato says Ukraine strikes threaten Putin's grip on power as Crimea's largest city loses power after drone attack.”
Overnight, Ukraine’s drones struck the main power substation in Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city, plunging it into darkness. Moscow-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev warned some areas would be without power until Wednesday evening and imposed a “special regime” at energy facilities, with all emergency services on full alert. “We will not be intimidated by the lack of light. We have gone through more than that, and we will survive now,” Razvozhayev said in a Telegram message. “The enemy is again striking vilely, trying to deprive us of our usual living conditions and sow panic.” Residents were told to save mobile phone battery and check on elderly neighbours as temperatures reached 30C.
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said drones had targeted 48 operational and planned military sites. Explosions were also heard in Bakhchisarai, Kerch and near Mount Ai-Petri, where a Russian radio engineering battalion is based. The attack comes amid severe fuel shortages in Sevastopol after Kyiv intensified efforts to isolate the peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014. On Sunday, Russian-installed leader Sergei Aksyonov suspended all petrol sales, reserving supplies for government services. Panic-buying has started in some shops, with sugar in especially short supply. Ukraine has also targeted key bridges connecting Crimea to other occupied areas. As Putin faces growing pressure at home, his forces struggle to hold the territory on which his war depends.