Archive photo: A soldier from the Ukrainian K-2 Brigade launches a medium-range drone towards Russian positions (Image source: AP)
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks against Russia overnight, sending more than 400 drones towards Moscow and carrying out missile strikes on the Belgorod region, Russian officials said on Tuesday.The attacks came just hours after deadly Russian missile and drone launches killed dozens in Ukraine and on the eve of an important NATO summit in Türkiye.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that more than 430 Ukrainian drones were launched towards the Moscow region between Sunday evening and Tuesday morning. “Most of them were neutralized by air defense forces on long approaches. 36 enemy drones were destroyed on approach to Moscow,” he wrote on the state-backed Max platform, according to Agence France-Presse.Russian authorities later reported that about 14 drones had been intercepted near the capital, with emergency crews deployed to sites where drone debris had fallen.No injuries or serious damage were immediately reported in Moscow.
Belgorod hit, civilian killed
Ukraine also bombed Russia’s Belgorod region, with acting governor Alexander Shuvaev saying several missile attacks targeted the city of Belgorod and nearby areas.A civilian was killed in the village of Belovskoye during the first missile strike, while the attacks also caused a fire in an infrastructure facility in the city of Belgorod.
The attacks come in the wake of deadly Russian bombing
The Ukrainian drone attack came after Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine early Monday.According to Reuters, the Russian strikes killed at least 30 people, including 11 in Kiev, and injured dozens.Residential buildings in Kiev suffered severe damage as emergency crews searched for survivors trapped under the rubble.The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 drones during the attack, which occurred during the night.While Ukrainian forces intercepted most of the cruise missiles and drones, officials said none of the ballistic missiles were stopped due to a shortage of Patriot interceptors.
Zelensky renews his national appeal
Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again called for stronger Western air defense support.“It is extremely important that the world – primarily the United States and our European partners – emerge from the NATO summit in Ankara with strong decisions to support our air defense,” Zelensky said.Zelensky urged the United States to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems under license.He added: “We have long emphasized that we are capable of producing such defensive weapons ourselves. If Ukraine is granted US licenses to produce Patriot missiles, our production will be sufficient to protect Ukraine and help partners in need.”Zelensky added that Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted all six Kalibr cruise missiles and 31 of the 33 missiles fired overnight, but stressed that the shortage of Patriot interceptors remains the main vulnerability against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
NATO summit focuses on Ukraine
This escalation comes as NATO leaders prepare to meet in Ankara, where the war in Ukraine is expected to dominate the discussions.Zelensky is expected to meet US President Donald Trump during the summit before Trump holds separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Washington tries to revive stalled peace efforts.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the allies will discuss strengthening the alliance’s deterrence, enhancing defense production, and ensuring continued military assistance to Ukraine.Russia and Ukraine have sharply intensified their long-range strikes in recent months, with both sides increasingly targeting areas far from the battlefield as the war enters its fifth year.