Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, escorted by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, right, and General Staff Valery Gerasimov walk after attending an extended meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry Board at the National Defense Control Center in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. The Russian president on Tuesday reiterated the demand for guarantees from the U.S. and its allies that NATO will not expand eastward, blaming the West for current tensions in Europe. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

A drone crash near Moscow on Tuesday has raised concerns of a possible escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. According to regional officials, the drone was likely targeting a civilian infrastructure facility in the district of Kolomna but was ultimately unsuccessful in causing damage or injuries.

This incident comes after the Russian defense ministry reported downing two Ukrainian drones in southern Russia, which Moscow claims are part of a series of suspected drone attacks in recent months. The attacks, which have occurred far from the border with Ukraine, have been blamed on Kyiv by Russian authorities.

The Ukrainian manufactured UJ-22 drone that crashed near Moscow.

As tensions continue to rise between the two countries, many are questioning whether this could be the start of World War III. However, experts caution against such a dramatic conclusion and instead urge continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.

The FSB and other competent authorities are currently investigating the incident and will release more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, officials on both sides of the conflict are being urged to exercise caution and refrain from any actions that could further exacerbate tensions.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.