Rescuers work to extinguish a fire in a house following a drone attack in the village of Stanovoye. (Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP/Getty Images)
A large-scale drone attack hit Moscow and its surrounding areas overnight into Sunday, injuring several people and temporarily disrupting air travel at some of Russia's busiest airports. The assault followed a massive wave of Russian drone strikes targeting Ukraine late at night.
This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a military pact with North Korea on Saturday, pledging mutual support if either country faces an attack. The agreement marks the strongest ties between Moscow and Pyongyang since the Cold War, and it follows reports earlier this week that Ukrainian forces had clashed with North Korean units. U.S. officials have confirmed the deployment of 3,000 North Korean troops to Russia, though Ukraine claims the number is much higher. These developments have sparked concerns that the conflict could escalate further, potentially affecting the Asia-Pacific region.
In another development, British officials estimate that Russia has suffered significant casualties, with the loss of around 700,000 troops since the start of the war in Ukraine. The UK's Chief of Defense Staff, Tony Radakin, revealed that October was the deadliest month for Russian forces, with about 1,500 soldiers killed or wounded daily. Despite these heavy losses, Radakin noted that Russia continues to make small territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, though these come at a steep cost in terms of both manpower and financial strain. He stressed that Ukraine's Western allies should remain committed to supporting the country for as long as necessary to resist Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin expressed cautious optimism about the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump, highlighting his calls for peace and his preference for diplomatic negotiations over confrontation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov contrasted Trump’s approach with that of the current U.S. administration, which has been more confrontational with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, emphasized the need for stronger actions from Kyiv’s Western allies to end the ongoing terror caused by Russian drone and missile attacks. He insisted that peace cannot be achieved without justice, and that the loss of civilian lives, including children, must not be forgotten.
The fighting continues to intensify on both sides, especially in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian city of Kurakhove, located near the front lines, remains in dire conditions, with most of its remaining 700 to 1,000 residents living in underground shelters without basic utilities. On the Russian side, the Defense Ministry reported that 84 Ukrainian drones were downed during an overnight strike, one of which hit a residential building in Belgorod, killing a man and injuring others. Suburban Moscow areas were also hit, with some reports of drone debris setting homes on fire. At least 14 flights to Moscow were diverted to other cities due to the disruptions.
In response, Ukraine’s military claimed that its drones caused a fire at a Russian arms depot in the Bryansk region, but details could not be independently verified. Additionally, a large fire broke out at a warehouse near Moscow, though it was unclear if it was related to the ongoing drone strikes.
Meanwhile, Russian forces launched a record 145 drones against Ukraine, 62 of which were shot down, with many others losing their course due to electronic interference. The attacks resulted in injuries in Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa and northeastern Kharkiv region, where civilians, including a teenager and a child, were hurt by falling drone debris and shelling. In retaliation, Russia claimed to have targeted a large group of Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv province with thermobaric rockets, although no evidence was immediately provided.
