Ukraine and Russia have launched their largest drone strikes to date, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing conflict.
Russia’s defense ministry reported intercepting 84 Ukrainian drones across six regions, including several aimed at Moscow. The attacks caused flight disruptions at three major airports in the Russian capital.
On the other side, Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 145 drones towards various parts of Ukraine on Saturday night. While many were shot down, the barrage was the largest attempted strike on Ukraine since the start of the war.
Russia described Ukraine’s attempted attack on Moscow as “massive,” with drones mainly targeted at the Ramenskoye, Kolomna, and Domodedovo districts. In Ramenskoye, falling drone debris injured five people and caused fires at four houses. This incident follows previous drone strikes in the area, including a fatal one in September.
In Ukraine, Russian drones hit the Odesa region, injuring at least two people and damaging buildings. Ukraine’s air force successfully shot down 62 of Russia’s Iranian-made drones, with a further 10 returning to Russia and neighboring countries.
Further Russian strikes were reported on Monday, with Moscow claiming it destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones near the Kursk and Belgorod regions.
Meanwhile, five civilians were killed in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, after an airstrike left residential buildings engulfed in flames.
Russia has reportedly made its largest territorial gains since March 2022, according to the Institute for the Study of War. However, the UK’s chief of defense, Sir Tony Radakin, stated that Russia endured its worst month for casualties in October, with an average of 1,500 soldiers killed or injured daily.
Speculation continues regarding the foreign policy approach of US president-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could end the war “in a day.” However, details on his proposed plan remain unclear. A former adviser, Bryan Lanza, suggested Trump’s administration would prioritize peace over Ukraine’s territorial recovery, though a spokesperson later clarified that Lanza’s remarks did not reflect Trump’s position.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed optimism over the incoming US administration, citing Trump’s campaign rhetoric about seeking peace rather than defeating Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump following his election win, but has emphasized that a lasting peace requires a combination of diplomatic negotiations and military strength.