The Russian military has reported that its air defense systems successfully intercepted 337 Ukrainian drones across ten regions in Russia during the night. This incident marks one of the most significant drone attacks attributed to Ukraine in three years, occurring just hours before crucial discussions between Ukraine and U.S. representatives were set to begin.
The drone strike, which resulted in one fatality and several injuries, coincided with a meeting in Saudi Arabia involving top U.S. officials and a Ukrainian delegation aimed at seeking an end to the ongoing war with Russia. Ukrainian authorities have not responded to this latest attack at the time of reporting.
Most of the intercepted drones—126—were shot down over the Kursk region, which has been the site of previous military engagements. Additionally, 91 drones were downed over the Moscow region, according to statements from the Russian Defense Ministry. Other affected regions included Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Lipetsk, and Nizhny Novgorod.
Moscow’s Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, reported that over 70 drones were targeted at the capital, with many successfully intercepted before they could cause further damage. The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, confirmed that the attack resulted in injuries, as well as damage to residential buildings and vehicles.
Flights have been temporarily suspended at several airports around Moscow, including major facilities like Domodedovo and Vnukovo, while train services have also faced disruptions due to the incident.
In parallel, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team were preparing to engage with Ukrainian representatives. It is anticipated that Ukraine will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and discuss potential agreements concerning prisoner exchanges and access to important mineral resources. Rubio emphasized that the U.S. delegation intends to listen to Ukraine’s proposals without imposing preconditions.
Rubio noted that while discussions around critical minerals were on the table, they would not serve as a barrier to advance negotiations with either Ukraine or Russia. He expressed a desire to understand Ukraine’s position and seek common ground before determining the next steps.
