In brief
Ukraine has intensified its military actions this week by launching one of its most significant drone bombardments directed at Moscow and surrounding regions ahead of potential ceasefire discussions. This strategic attack before dawn on Tuesday included dozens of strikes aimed at the Russian capital, leading to the closure of all four major international airports serving the area, which has a population of approximately 21 million.
Russian officials reported that their air defenses intercepted 337 drones. However, the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, asserted that this drone assault was the most formidable the city has experienced since the start of the war. Casualties included at least two fatalities and 14 injuries, while damage to residential buildings was noted, particularly with one apartment complex suffering roof damage from a drone explosion.In a bid to negotiate peace, Ukraine proposed an immediate air truce, indicating that it could halt long-range strikes on Russian territory if Moscow reciprocated with a similar cessation. This proposition has received backing from several European nations, including France, and aims to establish a foundation of trust ahead of broader peace talks concerning the nearly three-year conflict, which has seen substantial loss of life on both sides. Thus far, over a million Ukrainian and Russian soldiers have been killed or injured in the fighting.
