Ukraine Russia drone attacks have reached an all-time high since the start of the war in early 2022 with Ukraine drone strikes temporarily shutting down three of the Russian capital’s airports.
According to the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Sunday Russia fired 145 drones at Ukraine overnight. This is more than in any single (nighttime) attack so far in their two-and-a-half-year war.
“Last night, Russia launched a record 145 Shaheds and other strike drones against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said on social media, urging Kyiv's Western allies to do more to help Ukraine’s defense. Kyiv said its air defenses downed 62 of the drones. However, with a change in the political landscape of the North American powerhouse, US pressure on Ukraine might experience an alteration.
Russia also said it had downed 34 Ukrainian attack drones targeting Moscow on Sunday which is equally the largest attempted attack on the capital since the start of the offensive in 2022, with Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov calling the attack “massive”.
Damage of Missile Strokes in Moscow and Ukraine
In Moscow, five were reported injured in the districts of Ramenskoye, Kolomna, and Domodedovo. Also, Ukrainian strikes forced the temporary closure of three airports, causing Russian casualties (which includes the injury of a 52-year-old woman). Four homes were also set on fire by falling debris from drones in Ramenskoye, a town which has experienced more missile attacks than most.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defenses had downed a total of 70 Ukrainian drones between 04:00 GMT and 07:00 GMT over six regions. It said 34 were downed over the Moscow region and the rest over Bryansk, Orlov, Kaluga, Tula and Kursk.
Meanwhile, at least two people were injured in a Russian drone attack that ignited fires in nearby buildings in the Odessa region of southern Ukraine. Despite the attacks, Ukrainian forces shot down 62 Russian drones, with 67 more lost, and 10 heading back toward Russian territory.
Trump’s Possible Position in the War’s End
Speculation is growing amid ongoing conflict about how US president-elect Donald Trump might approach the war. Trump had boasted he could bring it to an end “in a day” during his election campaign but has not detailed how that might be achieved.
Former Trump adviser Bryan Lanza said the new administration may focus on peace talks rather than forcing Ukraine to take back territory.
In response to this, a Trump spokesperson quickly cooled down any perception that the president-elect condoned Lanza’s remarks, cautioning that “Lanza does not speak for him.”
The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, sent both positive signals coming from the Trump administration, emphasizing that Trump means to be a peacemaker, not to beat Russia. Trump has already called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and confirmed his sources who say the conversation lasted around 30 minutes.
Key Takeaway
The Ukraine-Russia drone conflict seems to be far from ending as Moscow suffers its largest drone strike yet, prompting closures of three airports. However, with the changing U.S. policy on Ukraine, changes in the dynamics of the war are likely underway.