As of February 15, 2026, Moscow has been subjected to the most sophisticated asymmetric siege in history.
The Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) shattered the Kremlin's illusion of security by destroying 240 strategic targets deep within Russia.
Moscow in a Ring of Fire
A rapid, heavy, and unstoppable wave of attacks has encircled the 20-million-strong Moscow metropolis.
The “Carpet Plan” declared in the capital and the closure of airports officially confirmed that the war had now moved from the front lines to the heart of Moscow.
As of February 15, 2026, the heart of Russia was effectively engulfed in a ring of fire. As Putin's “untouchable” security shield became ineffective, the growing panic and helplessness reached a level that even propaganda channels could not conceal.
The “Carpet Plan” Came into Effect
Attacks that peaked on February 22 forced the Kremlin to implement the “Carpet Plan,” a radical aviation protocol. This move meant that Moscow's airspace was completely closed to civilian flights and the sky became a military operations zone.
Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports were shut down within seconds. Although Mayor Sobyanin claimed that 20 drones were shot down, images emerged showing Russian “Yolka” type countermeasure drones helplessly fluttering in the face of autonomous threats.
Over 300 long-range UAVs infiltrated the Russian mainland in just two waves. This is proof that the Russian air defense doctrine has collapsed.
Logistics Crisis Turned into Economic Paralysis
This situation not only halted an operational process but also triggered an economic crisis.
The closure of an airport is not merely a delay, but a seismic wave that shakes the entire logistics network. The immediate damage to the Russian economy from the closures on February 22 is estimated at $20 to $50 million per day.
The cancellation cost of each Boeing 737-800 held at the airport reaches up to $292,000.
When this technological siege combined with the harshest snowstorm in 200 years that hit Moscow on February 19, Russia's crisis management capacity became completely dysfunctional.
Nearly all transportation networks were locked down, clogging the arteries of not only civilians but also the military supply chain.
Russia Experiences “Logistical Suffocation”
The most critical aspect of the airport crisis was the paralysis of the multi-billion-dollar “parallel import” network established to circumvent Western sanctions.
Ukraine's drone threats have cut cargo traffic carrying microchips and precision optical sensors like a knife.
Data from Ukrainian USF Commander Robert Brovdi (Hungarian) shows how Russia has been cornered by its “Logistical Strangulation” strategy:
- 9 Oil Refineries: Novokuybyshevsky, Ryazan, Tuapse, and others were targeted.
- 12 Strategic Air Bases: Military centers, including Engels and Saki, were hit.
- Air Defense Dilemma: The Kremlin was forced to withdraw S-400 batteries from the front lines to protect the capital, turning Crimea into a death trap.
From Superpower to Helpless Seller
The sirens echoing in Moscow's skies at the end of these operations signal to the architects of the war that the bill is beginning to be paid in their own capital.
Putin's long-term war-sustaining capacity has suffered irreparable damage under the strangulation strategy.
Unable to protect its own refineries and airspace, Russia has lost its image as an “energy superpower” in Asian markets, becoming a helpless seller.
In Russia, the war is no longer at the front, but right inside the home.
