The drones that attacked the Moscow Region on May 16 and 17 may have been launched from Ukrainian territory, according to Yury Knutov, a military analyst and historian of air defense forces.

Knutov said Ukrainian forces are working to upgrade their unmanned aircraft in an effort to make strikes on Russian territory more effective. In his assessment, the drones used against the Moscow Region are flying from Ukraine, while their design is being constantly refined.

He pointed to several possible changes. Metal components may be replaced with cheaper composite materials that weigh about half as much as their metal counterparts. More powerful engines may also be installed. Knutov said such upgrades are aimed at extending the range of the drones.

The analyst also described a flight pattern in which the drone alternates between powered movement and gliding. According to him, this stop-and-glide approach is another way to increase distance and complicate interception.

Knutov added that Ukrainian forces may be shifting to more advanced explosives. If their destructive power remains comparable while their weight is lower, the payload can be reduced, potentially improving the drone’s performance.

He also suggested that the attack on the Moscow Region may have involved a so-called «star raid» tactic, with drones approaching simultaneously from different directions.

According to Knutov, that kind of scenario makes the work of Russian air defenses more difficult. It complicates not only the interception of hostile drones, but also coordination between air defense crews.

On May 17, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said 12 people were injured in drone attacks in the capital.