Russia and Ukraine Exchange Records in the Drone Warfare

12th November 2024

3 minutes read

Russia and Ukraine Exchange Records in the Drone Warfare

The Russia-Ukraine war has witnessed an unprecedented escalation in drone attacks, with both sides exchanging aerial strikes using record numbers of drones, threatening to worsen the situation on the ground in both countries.

In the largest attack Ukraine has launched on the Russian capital Moscow since the beginning of the war, the city was struck by 34 Ukrainian drones, disrupting air traffic at three major airports and injuring at least one person.

In response, Russia announced it had launched 145 offensive drones at Ukraine during the night, in what Kyiv described as the largest attack since the outbreak of the conflict.

These developments come at a time when speculations are rising about the possibility of ending the war after Donald Trump‘s victory in the U.S. presidential election, where he stated during his campaign that he could bring peace to Ukraine within 24 hours.

As the world eagerly awaits details of his plan to end the conflict, the situation on the ground continues to escalate with ongoing drone attacks on both fronts.

Unprecedented Attacks

On Sunday, the Russian capital Moscow was hit by a massive drone attack from Ukraine, marking the largest strike since the war began in 2022. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian air defenses shot down 36 drones, while another 34 targeted the capital, causing disruptions at three major airports in Moscow. Among these airports were Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovo, where at least 36 flights were canceled or diverted.

Although the airports resumed operations after the attack, the incident caused significant tension in the city, particularly with at least one injury reported in the Moscow region, one of Europe’s largest urban areas, home to about 21 million people.

Russian Strikes

In response, Russia launched “Shahed” drones at Ukraine, with Kyiv reporting the downing of 62 drones from the total of 145 launched by Russia during the night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Russian attack as “record-breaking” and called on Kyiv’s Western partners to increase military supplies to better protect Ukrainian airspace.

In another development, Kyiv said it had carried out an attack on a Russian military depot in the Bryansk region, where Russian forces downed 14 Ukrainian drones. Videos were posted on the Telegram platform showing the drones in flight, although their authenticity could not be verified.

Trump’s Position on the War

Amid the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine, speculation has increased about the future of the war if Donald Trump were to win the U.S. presidential election. During his campaign, Trump stated that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, generating global interest in his plan, although he did not provide details on how he would achieve peace.

The Kremlin announced on Sunday that there were “positive signals” regarding Trump‘s stance on the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Trump‘s statements suggested he might seek to negotiate agreements aimed at ending the conflict. “The signs are positive, but we cannot predict what his behavior will be once he takes office,” Peskov added in an interview with Russian state media.

War Developments and Their Impact

Observers believe that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, entering its third year, will witness an unprecedented escalation on the battlefield. Recent weeks have seen Russian advances described as “the fastest” since the early days of the war. This advancement is reshaping the conflict’s dynamics, particularly with the massive use of drones, which have become the primary weapon for both sides in targeting vital sites. The war remains a focal point for global attention, especially as the harsh winter approaches, which is expected to significantly impact military operations on the ground.

Both Russia and Ukraine continue preparing for a new round of battles, while the international community waits to see if there is indeed a possibility for a peaceful resolution amid new political changes in the United States.