Russia on Wednesday said it intercepted 159 Ukrainian drones over a 12-hour period, targeting several regions including Moscow, calling it one of the largest aerial attacks since the war began over three years ago.
According to the defence ministry statement, Ukraine launched the drones between 8 pm Tuesday and 8 am Wednesday (Moscow time), mainly targeting Russian regions bordering Ukraine.
The ministry did not provide specific details about casualties or damage but claimed all drones were successfully neutralised. Videos circulating on Russian social media purportedly showed flashes in the sky and emergency sirens in several cities.
Drone attack follows Trump-Putin call
The drone barrage comes just two days after a high-level call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to yield any breakthrough on a possible ceasefire. The US and European allies have been pushing Moscow to agree to a truce as fighting drags on.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Kremlin of dragging its feet on peace talks.
“Russia is not interested in peace. They are buying time to regroup and intensify their offensive,” Zelenskyy said in a late-night address on Tuesday.
US awaits Russian ceasefire proposal
Meanwhile, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said a formal proposal from Moscow outlining a ceasefire framework is expected in the coming days. “This will reveal how serious Russia is about ending the conflict,” Rubio said at a press briefing in Washington.
There was no immediate response from Kyiv regarding Russia’s drone claims. Ukraine has been increasingly relying on drone warfare as a low-cost, high-impact tactic, especially across border areas.
The conflict has witnessed a surge in drone and missile strikes in recent weeks, with both sides employing more unmanned systems amid battlefield stalemates.
With diplomatic efforts hitting repeated roadblocks, the region remains tense, and the possibility of de-escalation looks distant.
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