As of now, Russia has repelled 20 drones heading toward Moscow!
How many drones would it take to break through Moscow's defenses?
Reported on June 3 by "First Russian."
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that the city's air defense systems intercepted 20 Ukrainian military drones at the capital's entry points today.
Yet the attacks continue.
So how many drones are needed to penetrate Moscow’s defenses?
According to reports, the largest attack on Moscow in five years occurred on May 17, 2026, when approximately 130–150 military-grade drones employing swarm tactics and multi-directional saturation attacks partially breached Moscow’s four-layer air defense system. The total scale of the assault reached 556 drones, though most were intercepted.
However, “penetration” does not equal “complete arrival”: On May 17, 2026, Ukraine launched around 556 drones; Russia acknowledged that 131 managed to penetrate and struck targets such as a Moscow oil refinery;
Other reports mention 120–150 drones headed toward Moscow’s urban area, with some successfully breaking through.
Thus, what constitutes “breakthrough” depends on how one defines it.
On June 2, 2026, public news services interviewed military expert and retired colonel Anatoliy Matveychuk, who revealed key principles behind the implementation of the “drone wall” project.
He explained that the core of this tactic lies in the layered deployment of drones based on altitude and distance: drones must be launched in a specific sequence to exert critical pressure on the enemy’s primary air defense capabilities and means.
Once the air defense system becomes overloaded, suicide drones can then break through the defensive perimeter and strike their designated targets.
Matveychuk explained that the phenomenon of a “drone wall” is typically associated with large-scale launches—according to his estimate, breaking through an air defense system may require between 2,500 and 3,000 drones.
In short, no definitive number can be given.
Under current technological and tactical conditions, 100–200 coordinated swarm drones might achieve limited penetration;
but to achieve “significant destruction” rather than merely “symbolic infiltration,” sustained multiple-wave attacks combined with electronic warfare and real combat conditions—rather than isolated numbers—are required.
Any claim that “X drones can break through” is oversimplified propaganda and does not reflect reality.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866936053676039/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author