President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian strikes on Moscow are a fair response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and communities.
These statements mark a significant escalation in rhetoric regarding the targeting of Russian territory. By framing these operations as a direct response to aggression, the Ukrainian leadership is signaling a strategy of reciprocal pressure intended to force an end to the conflict.
In a video address released on May 17, 2026, Zelenskyy said the massive strikes on the Moscow region were the result of work by Ukrainian military and intelligence services [1, 2, 3]. He said the actions were a necessary reaction to the ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian civilian centers.
"Completely fair response to Russian strikes on our cities and communities," Zelenskyy said [1].
The president used the address to call for an end to the Russian invasion. He said the Russian state must conclude its war [3].
The strikes on the Moscow region reflect a broader shift in Ukrainian capabilities and strategic intent. By bringing the conflict closer to the Russian capital, Ukraine seeks to disrupt the perceived safety of the Russian interior and pressure the Kremlin to cease its offensive operations.
Zelenskyy said the operations were coordinated efforts between the intelligence community and the armed forces [2]. The video was published on the president's official channel and widely distributed across media platforms [4].
“"Completely fair response to Russian strikes on our cities and communities."”
The explicit endorsement of strikes on the Moscow region indicates a transition from defensive posture to a strategy of strategic deterrence. By targeting the Russian heartland, Ukraine is attempting to alter the cost-benefit analysis for the Kremlin, moving the physical and psychological burden of the war from Ukrainian cities to the Russian capital.
