The peace process in Ukraine has stalled, though the Kremlin anticipates its resumption. This statement follows President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about the impact of Russian strikes on the peace efforts. Trump indicated that a deadly Russian missile attack on a Kyiv apartment building delayed the peace process. This attack resulted in the death of 24 people, including three children.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the ongoing Ukrainian strikes on civilian targets in Russia. Over the weekend, Moscow experienced its most severe drone attack in more than a year, with three fatalities reported in the capital’s surrounding areas. Debris from the attack landed at Russia’s largest airport but did not cause damage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed these drone attacks, asserting they were justified. Russia has executed similar attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Experts suggest these strikes were retaliatory, following recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s capital. Ukrainian authorities reported that eight individuals were wounded due to Russian drone strikes overnight.
In one of Ukraine’s strikes, a woman was killed when a drone hit her home in Khimki, northwest of Moscow. Additionally, two men died in Pogorelki, located north of the capital, according to Governor Andrei Vorobyev. Ukrainian drones also damaged unspecified infrastructure and several high-rise buildings in the area, according to Vorobyev’s social media updates.
Another fatality was reported after a drone struck a truck in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine. Moscow itself witnessed a nighttime strike that left at least 12 people injured, primarily near the entrance to the city’s oil refinery. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that the refinery infrastructure remained undamaged.
The Indian Embassy in Moscow announced the death of an Indian worker in a drone strike, with three other Indian nationals injured. Details about the worker’s death remain unclear concerning the fatalities reported by Moscow region officials.
Russia’s largest airport, Sheremetyevo, confirmed that drone debris fell within its premises without affecting operations. State agency Tass reported that 81 drones targeting Moscow were shot down overnight, representing one of the most significant attacks since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that they destroyed 556 drones across Russia and nearby regions; over 1,000 drones were shot down or jammed within 24 hours.
Zelenskyy stated that the drones traveled over 500 kilometers from Ukrainian territory, circumventing Russian air defense systems concentrated around the capital. He defended Ukraine’s actions, highlighting their response to Russia’s ongoing war and city attacks.
Nigel Gould Davies from the International Institute for Strategic Studies observed that Ukraine’s large-scale attack reflects the promised retaliation after Russia’s fierce strikes on Kyiv. The renewed hostilities followed a brief ceasefire for Russia’s Victory Day parade, celebrating the Soviet victory in World War II. Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
According to Gould Davies, Ukraine’s capacity to strike near the Russian capital is significant, though the attack is unlikely to prompt peace negotiations soon. He points to Russia’s battlefield setbacks, economic issues, and internet censorship as factors contributing to Kremlin anxiety.
Ukrainian drones have also targeted Russian oil facilities, causing significant fires and environmental damage. These attacks aim to disrupt Moscow’s oil exports, crucial for funding its invasion. Although the economic impact is uncertain, the strikes signal the war’s reach to ordinary Russians.