Moscow: Russian air defence systems have destroyed about 30 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) approaching Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told Russian media. He added that emergency services were working at the sites where fragments of intercepted drones fell.
According to Russian news reports, new air defence systems are forcing Ukrainian Armed Forces to change drone routes. These systems can influence enemy tactics even before intercepting aerial targets. Air defence systems also intercepted another 10 drones heading towards the capital after a group of 15 drones had been destroyed.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) imposed flight restrictions at three of the region’s four major airports: Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky. Although restrictions have been lifted at Zhukovsky, temporary limits remain in place at the other two airports.
The Kyiv Independent reported that residents of Moscow Oblast heard a series of explosions near Naro-Fominsk, a town located around 50 kilometres southwest of the capital.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed relations between Kyiv and Washington regarding strategies to end Russia’s invasion. He said he shared US President Donald Trump’s goal of ending the conflict but that the two leaders favoured different approaches to achieving peace.
In an interview with The Sun, Zelenskyy said his background gave him a clearer understanding of the Kremlin and Russian leadership.
“President Trump and I are on the same side when we speak about ending Russia’s war, but we see different instruments for achieving that goal,” Zelenskyy stated.
He added that Ukraine understood the mentality of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian soldiers and civilians through its historical experience with Russia.
On Wednesday, the Kyiv Post reported that Russian forces had struck a municipal veterinary and animal sterilisation centre in Chernihiv with a missile, wounding three women. Several animals were also injured in the attack.
With both sides hardening their positions, the conflict shows no signs of drawing to a close.
