Russia and Ukraine exchanged airstrikes on Monday, with each side reporting that it had shot down scores of drones, as the Kremlin welcomed calls for a settlement to the conflict and an end to attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure. The Ukrainian Air Force said it had shot down or disabled 85 Russian drones out of 108 launched during a nighttime attack targeting several areas in Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine report numbers of drones they shot down
It said the defenses had also shot down four guided aerial bombs, four US-made HIMARS missiles and two long-range Neptune missiles. The ministry added that Russian forces had destroyed a Ukrainian armed forces drone boat in the Black Sea during the same period.
It estimated Ukrainian military losses at about 1,375 troops over 24 hours. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, its forces carried out strikes in 142 areas, targeting logistics centers and energy- and transport-related infrastructure facilities, as well as drone assembly workshops, storage sites and positions of Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries.
Kremlin welcomes end to infrastructure targeting
Politically, the Kremlin welcomed calls for Kyiv to stop attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, commenting on US President Donald Trump’s call for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such calls “can only be welcomed.”
He added that some parties still hold, in his words, a mistaken view of Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian pressure. Peskov pointed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s welcome for the readiness of the leaders of China and India to contribute to efforts to resolve the conflict. He said countries with influence over Kyiv could use it to push it toward greater flexibility and improve the chances of reaching a settlement.
The developments came after Russia and Ukraine intensified their long-range air attacks over the past few months, while the front lines remained largely stable.
Kyiv targeted Russian oil infrastructure and warehouses belonging to e-commerce companies in an effort to increase the cost to Moscow of continuing the war.
