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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia and Ukraine Exchange Series of Major Strikes
Moscow faced a Ukrainian drone attack for the fifth night in a row, the city's mayor has said, as Russia launched yet another bombardment on Ukrainian infrastructure. Video shared on social media showed chaos at Moscow's airports after the Ukrainian drone threat disrupted flight paths. Meanwhile, at least one person was killed and several were injured in Ukraine's capital Kyiv following Moscow's latest bombardment. Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries for comment. Russia is showing no sign of letting up in its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, despite President Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to hold peace talks with Moscow in Turkey later this week. Kyiv's use of drones on Russia follows a warning in May by Serhii Bratchuk, from the Ukrainian Defense Army's Southern Division, about Ukraine's plans to disrupt aviation to make the Russian population pay for Vladimir Putin's aggression. Russia repeated its mass drone and missile attacks on Kyiv overnight Sunday in strikes which local authorities said killed at least one person and injured six. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 450 drones and missiles targeting Kyiv, the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kharkiv. Explosions rocked Kyiv in the early hours of Sunday, with outdoor kiosks burning and smoke pouring from the entrance of the damaged Lukianivska subway station. In Ivano-Frankivsk, air defenses were deployed during what the city's mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv described as the largest attack on the western region since the start of the war. Meanwhile, more than 230 Ukrainian drones had been shot down downed over Russia since Saturday morning, including 27 over the capital, according to Russia's defence ministry. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said the Russian capital faced a fifth night of Ukrainian drone attacks, but that the devices had been shot down by air defenses. Footage on social media showed debris hitting residential areas where several explosions were recorded. Damage to a railway station in Kamenolomni, in the Rostov region further south caused by falling drone debris was also reported, causing hours-long train delays. The threats posed by drones prompted restrictions to be imposed on flights from Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, according to Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia. Two other major airports in Moscow were also temporarily closed and at least 140 flights were cancelled as images on social media showed disgruntled passengers trapped at the crowded airports for up to 12 hours. Open source intelligence X channel Visoner said Ukrainian forces had been launching waves of drones at various regions of Russia, including Moscow, with the aim of overloading Russian air defense systems. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity." Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin: "Two drones attacking Moscow were shot down. Emergency service specialists are working at the crash site." After months of facing increased attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Ukraine's military appears to have intensified efforts in targeting Russia's capital. Meanwhile, despite Zelensky's offer for talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskovsaid "the main thing for us is to achieve our goals". These include Ukraine withdrawing from Russia-annexed regions and abandoning its aspirations to join Nato – terms that Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected. Related Articles Russia Touts Trump-Putin Meeting at Major DeadlineNATO Scrambles Fighter Jets Amid 'Massive' Russian AttacksUkraine Launches Fresh Drone Attacks on MoscowZelensky Makes Fresh Offer To Putin 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russia and Ukraine Exchange Series of Major Strikes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Moscow faced a Ukrainian drone attack for the fifth night in a row, the city's mayor has said, as Russia launched yet another bombardment on Ukrainian infrastructure. Video shared on social media showed chaos at Moscow's airports after the Ukrainian drone threat disrupted flight paths. Meanwhile, at least one person was killed and several were injured in Ukraine's capital Kyiv following Moscow's latest bombardment. Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries for comment. Why It Matters Russia is showing no sign of letting up in its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, despite President Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to hold peace talks with Moscow in Turkey later this week. Kyiv's use of drones on Russia follows a warning in May by Serhii Bratchuk, from the Ukrainian Defense Army's Southern Division, about Ukraine's plans to disrupt aviation to make the Russian population pay for Vladimir Putin's aggression. People walk past wreckage near a metro station following a Russian attack in Kyiv on July 21, 2025. People walk past wreckage near a metro station following a Russian attack in Kyiv on July 21, To Know Russia repeated its mass drone and missile attacks on Kyiv overnight Sunday in strikes which local authorities said killed at least one person and injured six. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 450 drones and missiles targeting Kyiv, the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kharkiv. Explosions rocked Kyiv in the early hours of Sunday, with outdoor kiosks burning and smoke pouring from the entrance of the damaged Lukianivska subway station. In Ivano-Frankivsk, air defenses were deployed during what the city's mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv described as the largest attack on the western region since the start of the war. Meanwhile, more than 230 Ukrainian drones had been shot down downed over Russia since Saturday morning, including 27 over the capital, according to Russia's defence ministry. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said the Russian capital faced a fifth night of Ukrainian drone attacks, but that the devices had been shot down by air defenses. Footage on social media showed debris hitting residential areas where several explosions were recorded. Damage to a railway station in Kamenolomni, in the Rostov region further south caused by falling drone debris was also reported, causing hours-long train delays. Russia was forced to temporarily close all four major airports in Moscow after Ukraine fired more than 230 drones over the weekend, officials said. At least 140 flights were cancelled across Moscow following Ukraine's counterattack, which began Saturday morning, with 27 drones… — CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) July 21, 2025 ‼️🇺🇦✈️ Since this morning, Ukrainian drones have been attacking Moscow — reports indicate strikes and explosions have been heard in several locations. — Visioner (@visionergeo) July 21, 2025 The threats posed by drones prompted restrictions to be imposed on flights from Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, according to Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia. Two other major airports in Moscow were also temporarily closed and at least 140 flights were cancelled as images on social media showed disgruntled passengers trapped at the crowded airports for up to 12 hours. Open source intelligence X channel Visoner said Ukrainian forces had been launching waves of drones at various regions of Russia, including Moscow, with the aim of overloading Russian air defense systems. What People Are Saying Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity." Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin: "Two drones attacking Moscow were shot down. Emergency service specialists are working at the crash site." What Happens Next After months of facing increased attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Ukraine's military appears to have intensified efforts in targeting Russia's capital. Meanwhile, despite Zelensky's offer for talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "the main thing for us is to achieve our goals". These include Ukraine withdrawing from Russia-annexed regions and abandoning its aspirations to join Nato – terms that Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's new drone strategy — cripple Moscow's airports, make Russian population 'pay'
Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks. None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1, independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia. The figure already surpasses the combined total for all of 2023 and 2024, underscoring Kyiv's growing ability to put pressure on Russia, even in areas far from the border with Ukraine. According to Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Army's Southern Division, the surge in disruptions reflects a strategic shift in Ukraine's drone campaign. "Moscow is the biggest aviation hub in the Russian Federation — flights go everywhere, not only across Russia, but worldwide," he told the Kyiv Independent. "This is about the potential disintegration of Russian regions and the weakening of internal control." Three nights of Ukrainian drone raids before Russia's Victory Day on May 9 forced Rosaviatsia to order temporary flight restrictions that disrupted travel plans for at least 60,000 passengers, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. Just shy of two weeks of calm have been followed by another wave. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 485 Ukrainian drones had been downed over the past three days, from May 20 to May 22, including 63 over Moscow Oblast. "Aviation is not a cheap industry, and losses are incurred — by airports, by airlines — and it also has a psychological effect on passengers and cargo clients." "The priority direction is clear — Moscow and the surrounding regions," Bratchuk said. Bratchuk highlights that due to Russia's vast geography, air travel is essential for maintaining connectivity, and disruptions in aviation could increase the risk of regional disintegration and public unrest. "These disruptions are not accidental. They are part of a pressure campaign against logistics, air defense systems, and public morale," he said. "The Russian population has to pay for this war. Sleeping in tents at the airport is not the highest price, but it does affect morale." Bratchuk also claims there is an economic cost to Russia in having to constantly close its airports. "Aviation is not a cheap industry, and losses are incurred by airports, by airlines — but it also has a psychological effect on passengers and cargo clients," he said. But experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said the immediate economic costs for Russia likely remain manageable, suggesting the campaign's primary objective is not to disrupt the economy. "The economic impact is visible at the level of individual airlines... but the losses are minor," Sergei Aleksashenko, a U.S.-based Russian economist, said. Fellow economist Andrei Movchan was even more skeptical of the financial impact of the campaign "I don't think there are any economic considerations at all," he said. While the economic fallout may be limited for now, Ukraine's drone campaign is also intended to serve a military purpose beyond financial disruption, Bratchuk said, saying the tactic also forces Russian air defense systems into a constant state of alert. "Even the smallest aerial target must trigger a full air defense response," Bratchuk said. "That's how the system works — for us, for Russia, and for any country." Russia's layered defense network is already under visible strain from Ukraine's now years-long campaign targeting Russian oil production in an attempt to deprive the Kremlin of money to fund its full-scale invasion, as well as military targets like ammunition dumps. Targeting Moscow and the surrounding oblast with increasing numbers of drones could spread Russia's air defenses even thinner. With Russia's air defense units forced to react to every aerial threat, Kyiv appears to be testing the limits of the Kremlin's ability to protect its own territory — a tactic that could lay the groundwork for future strikes with greater precision and deeper penetration. "Maybe this is one element that would enable our combat drones to strike more effectively at military targets," Bratchuk said. "As for military targets, strikes will continue to hit military-industrial sites in Russia. That's the only strategy. But the priorities now are somewhat different," Bratchuk concluded. Hi, this is Tim. Thank you for reading this article. The Kyiv Independent doesn't have a wealthy owner or a paywall. Instead, we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism funded. We're now aiming to grow our community to 20,000 members — if you liked this article, consider joining our community today. Read also: 'We don't want this anymore' — Lavrov confirms Russia has no interest in Ukraine ceasefire We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Drones took off from uncrewed surface vessels: details of nighttime attack on Crimea revealed
A large-scale drone attack took place in occupied Crimea on the night of 1-2 May, targeting military sites, particularly airfields housing tactical aircraft. Source: Serhii Bratchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, on the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: Bratchuk stated that the attack had utilised a particular method: uncrewed surface vessels acted as "carrier platforms" for first-person view drones (FPVs), which were launched from them to carry out precision strikes on ground-based targets. Quote from Bratchuk: "The sham 'governor' of Sevastopol, Razvozhayev, has acknowledged that the attack took place. He's talking about Ukraine's use of naval drones. Accordingly, naval drones have become 'carriers' for our other 'mosquitoes' – FPVs, which take off from them and strike military targets in Crimea... in addition, it was loud where the airfields from which enemy tactical aircraft take off and sites such as Hvardiiske, where a missile brigade is located." Background: On the morning of 2 May, Russia's Defence Ministry reported a large-scale drone attack on Crimea, claiming that its air defence units had destroyed 121 "Ukrainian drones" over the occupied peninsula and several Russian regions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
