Russian air defences were engaged in a significant battle over Moscow on Christmas Day, repelling a major Ukrainian drone assault that began on Christmas Eve. The attack, involving a large fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles, marks a stark escalation in hostilities during the festive period, even as diplomatic channels concerning potential peace deals remain active.
Christmas Eve Onslaught Targets Russian Capital
The overnight onslaught saw Ukrainian forces fire as many as 141 drones towards various targets within Russia. It is believed that at least 36 of these kamikaze drones were directed specifically at the capital, Moscow. This represents the first such attack on the city in approximately two weeks, following a period where Kyiv had focused its efforts on targeting Kremlin-linked oil installations.
The aerial threat was severe enough to force all of Moscow's airports to suspend flight operations throughout the alert. Russian air defence systems were activated throughout the night, successfully intercepting the incoming weapons. The timing of the attack coincided with many Ukrainians preparing to mark December 25 as Christmas Day, a departure from the traditional Russian Orthodox calendar.
Parallel Tensions: NATO Scrambles Jets as Putin Probes Airspace
While drones threatened Moscow, Russian long-range aviation conducted provocative flights near NATO airspace. Russian Tu-95MS long-range bombers, accompanied by Su-33 fighter jets, embarked on a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The Norwegian Sea lies to the northeast of Scotland.
In response, NATO fighter jets were scrambled to monitor and escort the Russian aircraft away. The Russian defence ministry acknowledged the intercept but did not identify which NATO member's air force conducted it. These same Tu-95MS bombers have been routinely used to launch devastating missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
War Toll and Fractured Peace Proposals
The drone attack unfolded against a backdrop of staggering war losses and fragile diplomatic manoeuvres. According to the latest figures, Russia has suffered approximately 1,201,230 troop casualties (killed or wounded), alongside the loss of 11,456 tanks, 434 warplanes, and 28 warships. Despite its losses, Moscow continues to struggle to make significant advances in the disputed Donbas region, most of which it currently controls.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated a potential compromise, stating he is willing to withdraw troops from the eastern industrial heartland if Russia reciprocates and the area becomes a demilitarised zone monitored by international forces. This proposal, part of a broader 20-point plan discussed with US envoys in Florida, suggests creating a "free economic zone" in the Donbas.
However, Russia has shown no indication of agreeing to a withdrawal. The Kremlin has instead insisted that Ukraine relinquish all remaining territory it holds in the Donbas—an ultimatum Kyiv has rejected. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Moscow's position would be formed after its envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, reported back from the Florida talks.
Further complicating the landscape, two Moscow police officers, named as Ilya Klimanov, 24, and Maxim Gorbunov, 25, were killed in an explosion on Christmas Eve. Ukrainian military sources told the BBC the officers had "participated in hostilities against Ukraine," with suggestions they may have been involved in prisoner torture.
