Ukrainian drones strike deep into Russian territory amid escalating aerial warfare

Wednesday 24 December 2025 - 13:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Ukrainian drones strike deep into Russian territory amid escalating aerial warfare

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone offensive overnight, striking targets across Russia in one of the most extensive air assaults since the war began. Russian authorities reported intercepting nearly 200 drones, several of which were approaching Moscow, while debris from a downed drone set fire to a key industrial site in the Tula region.

Officials in Moscow said air defenses destroyed multiple drones on the outskirts of the capital, prompting temporary flight restrictions at major airports including Domodedovo and Vnukovo. In Tula, Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed that debris caused a fire at the Yefremov Synthetic Rubber Plant, a crucial facility for military production that supplies materials used in tires, engines, and fuel components for armored vehicles. Satellite imagery later detected thermal activity consistent with fire at the site.

The strike represents a significant escalation in Ukraine’s deep-target drone operations intended to cripple Russian supply chains and defense manufacturing. Ukrainian security sources said the drones were aimed at undermining Russia’s capacity to sustain prolonged warfare by hitting vital logistics and energy infrastructure.

While Moscow faced a barrage of drones overnight, Russia simultaneously launched more than 100 Shahed-class drones into Ukraine. Kyiv’s air force said nearly half were intercepted, yet critical infrastructure in more than a dozen regions sustained damage. Power outages were reported across several areas as crews raced to restore the grid following repeated strikes this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv continues to advance its peace framework alongside the United States, describing ongoing negotiations as being “very close to a real outcome.” The intensified cross-border strikes, however, highlight the growing complexity of the conflict, with both nations now deeply engaged in strategic aerial campaigns that blur the frontlines and threaten civilian infrastructure deep inside their territories.