Moscow was struck by a massive drone barrage overnight, with Russian forces claiming to have shot down a staggering 337 Ukrainian drones. The Defence Ministry reported that the attack, described as the largest of its kind since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, saw drones intercepted across 10 Russian regions. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that Moscow’s air defences had been engaged through the night, with 91 drones brought down over the capital.
Sobyanin described the attack as unprecedented, while Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed casualties in Moscow: at least two people were killed, and eight others were injured. Several high-rise buildings, homes, and businesses were damaged by drones or falling debris. In response to the attack, Russia’s federal air agency grounded flights at all four Moscow airports, as well as flights in Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions to the east of the capital.
While the Ukrainian military has yet to comment on the strikes, the timing of this dramatic escalation is particularly significant. It comes just days before U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators are set to open ceasefire talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These talks have been a point of contention, with both sides facing public disagreements over the path to peace.
The Biden administration is pushing Kyiv to make significant concessions to end the ongoing conflict, including a controversial minerals-sharing agreement aimed at recouping the tens of billions of US dollars in aid sent to Ukraine. Former President Donald Trump, who has aligned himself with Moscow’s narrative, has framed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the primary obstacle to peace and blamed Ukraine for the war’s inception.
On the diplomatic front, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed the importance of Ukraine’s willingness to make difficult decisions, though the specifics of what Moscow may have to concede remain unclear. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, discussing the steps required to end the war and secure a lasting peace. Zelenskyy emphasised prisoner releases and the return of children as key confidence-building measures.
A source close to Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would propose a partial ceasefire during Tuesday’s talks, focusing on long-range air strikes and attacks at sea. The proposal is aimed at gauging Moscow’s response before further steps are taken. Rubio expressed cautious optimism about the proposal, noting that such concessions could play a crucial role in resolving the conflict.
Despite the diplomatic push, the war continues to intensify. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down an Iskander ballistic missile and 79 drones, with an additional 35 UAVs lost in flight. The affected areas included Donetsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Kyiv, underscoring the ongoing risks to civilians and infrastructure.
As the US and Ukrainian delegations prepare for their crucial discussions, the fate of the conflict hangs in the balance, with military action continuing to escalate amid the push for peace.
