Thursday Briefing: Russia Says Ukraine Aimed Drones at Moscow

Russia said it repelled a drone attack against Moscow yesterday, as Ukraine presses on with its offensive in Russia’s southern Kursk region. The Russian authorities did not report any damage or casualties, saying 10 Ukrainian attack drones were destroyed by the capital’s air defenses.

A Washington-based think tank said Ukraine was making marginal advances within Russia. Footage showed that Ukrainian troops had entered the outskirts of Korenevo, a town of about 5,000 people, and pushed into two more villages. Russian forces are trying to install pontoons to cross a section of the Seym River after Ukraine destroyed several bridges.

President Vladimir Putin has promised a decisive response to Ukraine’s incursion, but so far there has been more focus on containment than retaliation. Russian forces have slowed Ukraine’s advance and hardened the front line, setting up the next phase of a battle with high stakes for both sides. Instead of weakening the Kremlin, the invasion may eventually cause more Russian citizens to rally around the flag, some analysts said.

Context: Drone assaults away from the front lines have become a feature of the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukraine also said it had intercepted 50 Russian drones over its territory overnight.