How life has changed in a Moscow suburb where Ukrainian drones hit the same apartment building twice

On September 20, 2026, another large-scale drone attack occurred in the Moscow region, specifically targeting a high-rise apartment building in Kotelniki, southeast of Moscow. This was the second such attack on the same building, with the first taking place on June 18, 2026. Thankfully, no one was injured in either incident, though the attacks caused widespread fear among the neighborhood residents.

Bereg, a cooperative of independent journalists, visited the Novye Kotelniki residential complex to observe the progress of repairs and the reactions of the residents. The neighborhood, typically bustling with activity, was unusually quiet on the day of the attack. The courtyard of the complex was empty, and drivers struggled to find parking spaces.

The building sustained significant damage, with a black scorch mark and broken balconies visible. Many residents were hesitant to discuss their feelings regarding the constant drone alerts, but one woman in a hijab and a blonde woman with her two-year-old daughter were more open about their experiences. The woman in the hijab, who had not been in the building during the recent attack, expressed her fear for her daughter and the anxiety that had taken over her life.

Another resident, Ruslan, took a different approach to coping with the situation. He actively sought out news about the attacks, believing that the neighborhood's air defenses were doing their job. He stated that he didn't plan on getting a "go bag," as he trusted the effectiveness of the air defense system. Despite the constant fear and anxiety, Olga and Ruslan's daily routines remained largely unchanged, with no plans to move out of their apartment building.