Chethana Janith, Jadetimes Staff
C. Janith is a Jadetimes news reporter covering science and geopolitics.
Russia and Ukraine have launched their largest drone attacks on each other since the war began.
Russia's defense ministry reported intercepting 84 Ukrainian drones across six regions, including several near Moscow, which led to flights being diverted from three major airports in the capital.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 145 drones across the country on Saturday night, with most of them successfully shot down.
These extensive attacks come amid speculation that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump may press both nations to end the conflict.
Ukraine's attempted strike on Moscow marked its biggest attack on the capital so far, described as "massive" by the region's governor.
Most drones were intercepted over Ramenskoye, Kolomna, and Domodedovo districts, officials noted.
In Ramenskoye, southwest of Moscow, falling debris injured five people and caused fires in four homes. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that 34 drones had been shot down over the town.
In past incidents, a woman was killed in a September drone attack in Ramenskoye, and last May, two drones were destroyed near the Kremlin in central Moscow. Several strikes also targeted the Moscow City business district.
In Ukraine, a drone hit in the Odesa region left at least two people injured. Images showed flames rising from buildings and damage left by the strike.
The Ukrainian air force reported that 62 of Russia's Iranian-made drones were shot down, while 67 were "lost." Another 10 drones exited Ukraine's airspace, heading back toward Russia, Belarus, and Moldova.
The drone attacks coincide with reports of Russian troops making their largest territorial gains in October since March 2022, according to an analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War.
However, Sir Tony Radakin, the UK's army chief, shared that October marked Russia's worst month for casualties since the conflict began. He reported that Russian forces suffered around 1,500 casualties - dead and injured, daily throughout the month.
There’s been much speculation about how Trump will handle the conflict following his U.S. election victory.
During his campaign, the president-elect frequently claimed he could end the war "in a day," though he hasn’t provided specifics on how he would accomplish this.
A former adviser to Trump, Bryan Lanza, suggested that the incoming administration might prioritize peace efforts over helping Ukraine reclaim territory from Russia.
However, a spokesperson for Trump clarified that Lanza does not officially represent the president-elect’s views.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned through state media on Sunday that the incoming U.S. administration has made "positive" statements. He noted that Trump expressed a preference for peace over defeating Russia during his campaign.
Trump has also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since his election, with reports indicating the call lasted around 30 minutes.
Zelensky has previously cautioned against giving up Ukrainian territory to Russia and emphasized that without U.S. support, Ukraine could face defeat in the war.
