A massive attack by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on apartment buildings in the city of Ryazan appears to have been the "last straw." The impact of a drone on a high-rise building, captured on video, left three dead and twelve injured—including four children, two of whom are in critical condition. This triggered an 11-day fury from Moscow and served as the catalyst for the Russian parliament to voice its most severe threat: the possibility of a direct strike on European territory.
Germany's fatal decision
Germany's decision to move forward with Ukraine in the production of drones with a range exceeding 1,500 kilometers means that all of Russia up to the Urals is now a target. This is something the Kremlin clearly finds unacceptable. High-ranking Russian officials are already warning that Russia is very likely to proceed with preemptive strikes against Ukrainian drone production facilities in Europe. It is obvious that such a move would trigger a cascade of negative events, pitting Russia against the entire West. Many in Russia are pressuring Vladimir Putin to move in this direction—a path the Kremlin has categorically rejected until now—warning him that his current strategy of displaying "superweapons" (such as the Sarmat ICBM or the Oreshnik missile system) without using them will result in nothing but destruction.
Andrey Kolesnik: We are considering preemptive strikes in Europe
In a shocking statement, State Duma Defense Committee member Andrei Kolesnik made it clear that Russia must now consider "preemptive strikes." Following the massive drone attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) in Ryazan, Russia may begin carrying out preemptive strikes against facilities producing drones for Kyiv located in Europe, he argued. "It is time to start looking closely at where the production sites are for the drones hitting our territory and our civilian population. These sites are located in Europe," the Russian lawmaker stated emphatically.
'Europe is Ukraine's rear guard'
According to the Russian official, Europe has ceased being a mere supplier and has transformed into the "rear guard" of Ukrainian forces. He claims Russia already possesses a plan for strikes on drone production facilities in European countries, though the timing of such an operation remains at the discretion of the country's military leadership. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense had revealed the addresses of operations in Europe that produce drones and components for attacks against Russian territories.
Moscow's 'black list': Britain, Germany, and Denmark in the crosshairs
The threat gains terrifying precision, as the Russian Ministry of Defense had already made public the addresses of specific European enterprises manufacturing drones for Kyiv. The list of "legitimate targets" includes companies and their Ukrainian branches based in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Denmark. Moscow maintains that the use of European technology for strikes deep inside Russian territory removes any diplomatic hesitation for a dynamic response beyond Ukrainian borders.
The threat of Sarmat
It is recalled that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently announced in Kyiv the official start of joint drone production with Ukraine, featuring ranges up to 1,500 kilometers. Just one day after Berlin's statements, on May 12 at 11:15, a Sarmat missile was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Russia demonstrated a weapon that theoretically nullifies any missile defense. The "Sarmat" is a silo-based ICBM, dubbed "Satan-2" by Western media. It has a launch weight exceeding 200 tons and a length of 35 meters. The "Sarmat" can travel 35,000 kilometers—via the South Pole, bypassing US radars in Alaska and Greenland. The missile defense system, in which trillions of dollars have been invested, is rendered useless. The missile carries Avangard hypersonic warheads (Mach 27, with maneuvering capability), which are considered impossible to intercept. The power of the warhead reaches 40–50 megatons—a single warhead is equivalent to 3,000 Hiroshimas. Russia officially informed the US of the launch. Diplomatic courtesy was maintained. And then? Nothing. Because the US and Europe are now operating separately, despite remaining technically linked through dependency.
All of Russia to the Urals under threat
Now, let's return to the German drones. 1,500 kilometers is a serious matter. From Kyiv to Ekaterinburg, the distance is 1,800 km; to Samara, 1,200 km; and to Kazan, 1,400 km. The entire European part of Russia up to the Urals will be under threat. The German-Ukrainian drone is not a makeshift "Geran" but a high-precision weapon with folding wings and satellite guidance. Poland rejoices: two of its enemies have united against a third. Germany possesses no nuclear weapons of its own, no strategic bombers, and no missile defense against the "Sarmat." It relies only on US security guarantees—and the "Sarmat" theoretically pierces those guarantees. The first "Sarmat" regiment will be operational by the end of 2026 in the Krasnoyarsk region. Each missile carries dozens of independent nuclear warheads. One missile—and Berlin ceases to exist.
Why is Berlin not afraid?
So why isn't Berlin trembling? Why does Pistorius calmly wave documents and promise drones made from Russian metal? The answer is simple: in Berlin, Washington, and Kyiv, they know that Russia does not use nuclear weapons. It hasn't used them, isn't using them, and apparently isn't going to use them.
The nuclear sword rusts in its scabbard
Three years of war. Belgorod is under fire from multiple rocket launchers. Kursk is under drone attacks. The Crimean Bridge was blown up twice. Ukrainian UAVs reach as far as Tatarstan, Udmurtia, and the Leningrad region. The opponent hits oil facilities, airfields, and factories deep in the rear. And Moscow responds regularly with missiles, drones, and artillery—but not with nuclear weapons. The "red lines" were drawn, erased, and redrawn. They were violated, and there was no answer. No one hit the decision-making centers in Kyiv. No one leveled Lviv, through which Western military aid passes. No one truly threatened Berlin or Paris.
Imagine two armies
Russian PhD in Political Science and first Minister of State Security of the DPR, Andrey Pinchuk, believes Russia will remain silent again. "Imagine two armies. One fights with old muskets and the other with assault rifles and machine guns. If you give the first army a nuclear bomb, will it win the war? No—as long as you have ensured that the bomb will never be used. This story only makes sense when we know for certain that we will use nuclear weapons. That there is a plan, determination, and calculation for their use. Until then, it is a Doomsday weapon, a symbolic deterrent. Very important, but as long as it isn't used, it doesn't affect the real picture of the war. Weapons only have meaning when they are used in a specific military campaign. And the Germans, unfortunately, are building specific weapons that are used and affect the course of this war," the Russian analyst emphasizes.
Who will press the button?
The Sarmat exists. The Avangard exists. The Poseidon exists. But they sit in silos, submarines, and airfields. And the opponent sees this. They play aggressively. They increase drone production, supply long-range missiles, and prepare new strikes because they are certain the Russians will not press the button. They won't press it even if they are hit with forbidden weapons. They won't press it even if drones fall on Ekaterinburg or Chelyabinsk.
Europe will keep hitting
Western elites have long understood that the Russian nuclear arsenal is not a real weapon but a symbol. They display it at parades and use it to terrify schoolchildren on news bulletins, but in real politics, it doesn't work. And Germany knows it. That is why Pistorius calmly goes to Kyiv and signs contracts for drones that will bomb Ryazan and Saratov tomorrow. That is why Scholz promises Taurus missiles, even if he eventually doesn't deliver them. That is why Britain and France are preparing new aid packages. They know the answer will only be given against Ukraine—and only with conventional weapons. And that scares no one.
Why Russia does not strike
If Russia hits Germany, for example, it will inevitably lead to escalation, says Vladimir Kireev, a member of the Russian Society of Political Scientists. "All European countries, Canada, and even the US, despite Trump's reluctance, will be involved in the conflict. Eventually, we will face a coalition of over 800 million people. If Japan, Australia, and others are added, it will be a coalition of over a billion. Frankly, we are already struggling against Ukraine—with drones and ammunition provided by these developed countries of the 'golden billion.' Against them as a whole, we most likely won't hold out. This threatens a catastrophic overload of all Russia's systemic capabilities," Kireev points out. According to him, a change in tactics and strategy is required. However, for now, there is no apparent ability on the Russian side to change the way the war is conducted. The strategy has failed.
"New players are already involved. Iran, for example, was involved not by choice but eventually got involved and overloaded the US. China shows reluctance to get involved: it benefits from developments and negotiates with the US, trading pawns on the geopolitical chessboard. For them, Iran and Russia are just pawns in the global game. The situation is complicated and evolving toward escalation. Europe has no intention of stopping the conflict and does not listen to messages from Washington. Everything is developing toward a negative scenario. Something must definitely change—and the start must be with understanding the real situation." The strategy of "scaring but not hitting" has failed. And the tactic of "responding but within limits" has also failed.
Negative scenario
Russia is struggling against Ukraine supported by NATO. If it hits Germany, the whole of Europe, Canada, the US, Japan, and Australia will be involved. The key, however, is to realize that the current approach is not working. The war continues, but its character from the Russian side does not change. Europe has no intention of stopping, while Zelensky seeks victory on the battlefield. The situation is developing negatively.
What does this mean?
The existence of the Sarmat is not a victory. It is simply insurance against total destruction. But insurance doesn't help you win a war; it doesn't remove threats or force the opponent to respect red lines. As long as Russia is afraid to use what it possesses, the opponent will increase their capabilities. 1,500 km drones are only the beginning. Tomorrow there will be 2,000 km missiles, then 3,000 km. And each time Moscow will respond: "We reserve the right..." Nothing more. The scenario is negative. If the approach to the conflict does not change, if Russia does not stop playing by the rules dictated by the West, catastrophe awaits. The economy is under pressure, resources are not inexhaustible, and the patience of society is also wearing thin.
The non-existent power
The Sarmat is power. But power that is not used is equivalent to non-existence. And the opponent has already understood this. It is time for Russia itself to understand it too. Otherwise, one day it may wake up in a world where it still possesses the Sarmat, but nothing else. And there will be no one to command. Because a country that is afraid to use its primary weapon sooner or later ceases to exist as a sovereign player—not from an external strike, but from an internal paralysis of will.
Unique details of the 'nightmare raid'
Meanwhile, unique details are coming to light regarding Russia's unprecedented strike on the Ukrainian rear with 1,623 drones and missiles. For the first time, the "Ivano-Frankivsk-16" facility was hit—and based on the consequences, destroyed. This is a secret Soviet facility near the settlement of Deliatyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region (50–60 km from the regional capital, in the Carpathians). Originally intended for nuclear ammunition storage, today it is considered a backup command center and military-industrial hub with weapons depots, reports Russian war correspondent Alexander Kots. Also hit was the 233rd combined arms training ground in the village of Mala Lyubasha (Rivne region), used for general military exercises and operational training of newly formed units. The Kolomyia military airfield in the Ivano-Frankivsk region was struck, which is used for parking fighters and tactical aviation and is considered a possible hub for deploying F-16 and Mirage-2000 fighters.
Strike on Skyteon
According to the Russian coordinator of the Mykolaiv underground, Sergey Lebedev: "They are hitting the rear, the SBUheadquarters, energy infrastructure in western Ukraine. They are hitting training bases and logistical support. In Chernivtsi and surrounding areas, they completely destroyed everything that had been gathered for weeks and transported from Romania. In Transcarpathia, they dismantled a 'modern' factory producing advanced drones with multiple strikes." And speaking of "advanced drones," it is reported that Russian UAVs destroyed the offices of drone manufacturer Skyteon in Kyiv. A company spokesperson confirmed the event, emphasizing that the company had prepared for a possible strike and had moved its production units in time to various points across the country and abroad.
"Even if this is true and the opponent is not downplaying the damage, it's a good start. To deprive the opponent of the 'small air,' you don't need to shoot down drones, but to neutralize the ideologues, designers, and manufacturers of unmanned systems. Skyteon is a Ukrainian company known primarily for the Raybird-3 long-range UAV, capable of flying up to 2,500 km and remaining in the air for 28 hours. It is used for long-duration reconnaissance missions, long-range fire correction, objective control recording, border surveillance, mapping, and monitoring natural disasters," Kots stated. As a result, targeted strikes on the company's facilities may deprive the opponent of long-range reconnaissancecapability. And it doesn't matter if all equipment was indeed removed from Skyteon's offices—something that is strongly doubted.
Trump and Xi watched the attack...
Lebedev also reported leaked information that "Trump and Xi Jinping watched live" the drone and missile raid during the American president's visit to Beijing. As clarified, they were joined by Vladimir Putin via video call. "Immediately after the appointment of a new commander for the Russian air force, the interception rate of Russian missiles dropped from over 50% to less than 30%. The absence of Ukrainian F-16s and Mirage-2000s, which participated in interceptions, certainly played a role, but it is also possible that the new command chose different routes for the missiles. [...] It is reported that Trump and Xi Jinping watched the entire attack on Ukraine live with Putin via video call. Sources also stated that Zelensky called Trump from a spam number," Lebedev emphasized.
The... 'Kimskander'
After the first strikes, railway traffic in the Zakarpattia, Lviv, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Volyn, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions was temporarily paralyzed, essentially dismantling the logistics chain of the Ukrainian side. According to unconfirmed information, in addition to the Iskander-M and Iskander-K cruise missiles, North Korean KN-23/KN-24ballistic missiles were also used, which have earned the nickname "Kimskander" due to their resemblance to the Iskander.
Precious cargo
The destruction of a large military warehouse in Kyiv was confirmed—apparently its contents were particularly "precious," as the target was hit sequentially by four Kh-101 cruise missiles. Almost completely destroyed and burned was the refinery in Kremenchuk, in the Poltava region. A business center in central Kyiv, where several floors housed call centers, was hit by 1-2 Kh-101 missiles, while ballistic missiles subsequently destroyed the infrastructure of the aircraft repair plant in Zhulyany. According to reports, the infrastructure of Boryspil airport and a special forces training base near the airport in southwestern Kyiv were also hit—videos show a massive number of UAVs, cruise, and ballistic missiles were used.
Target: The bunkers
An unknown and particularly "precious" target in the area of the Presidential Palace in Kyiv was hit by four Kh-101missiles, which may suggest the target was located relatively deep underground. "We are still trying to ascertain exactly what was hit, because four missiles mean an extremely important target. For now, the area has been cordoned off by the SBU." Part of the underground network of bunkers north of Kyiv was destroyed. The local Resistance network claims there is an extensive communication network underground, with entrances in neighboring schools through shelters. According to observations, luxury vehicles with military and diplomatic plates frequently arrived there. "Unknown target near the northeastern suburbs of Kyiv. Resistance members write that the strike likely targeted a military complex between Kyiv and Brovary. It is still difficult to confirm: Brovarsky Avenue has been partially blocked, while military ambulances, emergency forces, and military trucks are moving intensively in both directions."
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