A Ukrainian drone strike on an oil refinery outside Moscow has left residents complaining of black rain. The attack, part of a deepening UK-backed drone strategy, targeted the refinery in the early hours. Locals reported a sticky, oily precipitation coating cars and gardens. One Muscovite told a state news agency: "It smells of fuel. Everything is black."
This is the game now. No longer limited to the front lines, the war is coming to Russian cities. The Kremlin calls it terrorism. But the calculations are cold. Each refinery hit, each drone intercepted over Tula or Ryazan, chips away at the myth of invulnerability.
Westminster sources confirm British intelligence and targeting support have been instrumental in expanding the range and precision of these attacks. The UK-backed drone strategy aims to cripple Russia's fuel supply and logistics. It is a high-risk play. Escalation is the constant fear. But so far, Putin has not responded with a strike on a NATO member.
Inside the Lobby, the debate is fierce. Labour MPs question the legality. Tories call it necessary. The PM's office is resolute: "Ukraine has the right to defend itself." The black rain over Moscow is a new kind of rain. It is a symbol of a war that no longer has borders. And it is a reminder that in this game, there are no clean hands.
Backbench whispers suggest a growing unease. Some worry about the precedent. Others fear the summer offensives. But for now, the drones keep flying. And the rain keeps falling.
