Ukraine launched a major drone and missile attack on Russian regions overnight, resulting in the destruction of factories in at least three cities, according to officials and media reports.
Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov region, reported that a mass drone attack targeted the cities of Saratov and Engels, located on opposite banks of the Volga River, resulting in damage to two industrial sites. The region is located approximately 720 km (450 miles) southeast of Moscow.
The independent news outlet Astra stated that a drone attack resulted in a fire at an industrial site in the city of Kazan, located to the east of Moscow.
The governor of the Bryansk region in western Russia, Alexander Bogomaz, said that Ukraine had launched a major missile attack.
Airports in Kazan, Saratov, Penza, Ulyanovsk, and Nizhnekamsk have implemented flight restrictions, according to Russia’s aviation watchdog.
There was no immediate response from the Russian defense ministry.
On November 21, 2024, Ukraine launched ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia. In response, Moscow launched a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile called “Oreshnik” (also known as Hazel Tree) toward Ukraine.
In November, President Vladimir Putin proclaimed that the Ukraine war was on the brink of a global conflict after the United States and Britain permitted Ukraine to launch its missiles deep within Russia for the first time.
Washington’s long-term support for Ukraine is now uncertain as President-elect Donald Trump has advocated for a ceasefire and negotiations to swiftly conclude the conflict.
