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Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kyiv launches drone attack on Moscow, official claims, following Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine overnight
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Several Ukrainian drones were downed by Russian air defenses on their approach to Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on May 25. Sobyanin's report comes following Russia's large-scale missile and drone attack on multiple cities of Ukraine, which killed 12 people and injured 60. Sobyanin said that emergency crews are on-scene at various locations as to where the debris of at least four drones fell. It was not immediately clear as to the damage caused by the alleged attack, or as to whether there were any casualties. Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports were closed for about two hours between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. local time amid the attack, Russian state media reported. Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the attack and the Kyiv Independent cannot verify information provided by Russian officials. The attack on Moscow comes after Russia launched 69 missiles and 298 drones overnight , according to Ukraine's Air Force. The Air Force reported that 45 cruise missiles were shot down by air defense and 266 drones were neutralized, while 22 locations recorded a direct strike. The attacks come one night after one of the heaviest Russian assaults on Kyiv throughout the full-scale war. The attack also coincides with Kyiv Day, a city holiday typically celebrated on the last Sunday in May. In recent week, Kyiv has ramped up its attack on Moscow, launching hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones towards the Russian capital. While none have appeared to have reached Moscow, the attacks have caused significant disruptions to commuter air traffic. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 218 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1, independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia. Russia's air defenses destroyed and intercepted 110 Ukrainian drones overnight on May 25, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed, including over Moscow and Kursk oblasts. The second night of large-scale attacks on Kyiv comes as Russia and Ukraine have continued to engage in peace talks. Despite some progress to establish a 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner exchange, Moscow continues to reject the prospects of a 30-day ceasefire. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia claims it downed 110 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russia's air defenses destroyed and intercepted 110 Ukrainian drones overnight on May 25, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed. The drones were intercepted over several regions of Russia, including Moscow and Kursk oblasts, according to the ministry. The Defense Ministry also reported that drones were intercepted over Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims. Over the past week, Ukraine has launched several massive waves of drones deep into Russian territory, forcing airport closures multiple days in a row. Ukrainian drones had forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1, independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia. The attack overnight came as Russia launched its own massive aerial attack on Ukrainian territory, killing at least a dozen, including 3 children. According to Ukraine's General Staff, Ukraine has destroyed 1,169 Russian air defense systems since the start of the full-scale invasion. Read also: Russian missile, drone attack kills at least 12 in Ukraine We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's new drone strategy — cripple Moscow's airports, make Russian population 'pay'
Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks. None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant. Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1, independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia. The figure already surpasses the combined total for all of 2023 and 2024, underscoring Kyiv's growing ability to put pressure on Russia, even in areas far from the border with Ukraine. According to Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Army's Southern Division, the surge in disruptions reflects a strategic shift in Ukraine's drone campaign. "Moscow is the biggest aviation hub in the Russian Federation — flights go everywhere, not only across Russia, but worldwide," he told the Kyiv Independent. "This is about the potential disintegration of Russian regions and the weakening of internal control." Three nights of Ukrainian drone raids before Russia's Victory Day on May 9 forced Rosaviatsia to order temporary flight restrictions that disrupted travel plans for at least 60,000 passengers, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. Just shy of two weeks of calm have been followed by another wave. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 485 Ukrainian drones had been downed over the past three days, from May 20 to May 22, including 63 over Moscow Oblast. "Aviation is not a cheap industry, and losses are incurred — by airports, by airlines — and it also has a psychological effect on passengers and cargo clients." "The priority direction is clear — Moscow and the surrounding regions," Bratchuk said. Bratchuk highlights that due to Russia's vast geography, air travel is essential for maintaining connectivity, and disruptions in aviation could increase the risk of regional disintegration and public unrest. "These disruptions are not accidental. They are part of a pressure campaign against logistics, air defense systems, and public morale," he said. "The Russian population has to pay for this war. Sleeping in tents at the airport is not the highest price, but it does affect morale." Bratchuk also claims there is an economic cost to Russia in having to constantly close its airports. "Aviation is not a cheap industry, and losses are incurred by airports, by airlines — but it also has a psychological effect on passengers and cargo clients," he said. But experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said the immediate economic costs for Russia likely remain manageable, suggesting the campaign's primary objective is not to disrupt the economy. "The economic impact is visible at the level of individual airlines... but the losses are minor," Sergei Aleksashenko, a U.S.-based Russian economist, said. Fellow economist Andrei Movchan was even more skeptical of the financial impact of the campaign "I don't think there are any economic considerations at all," he said. While the economic fallout may be limited for now, Ukraine's drone campaign is also intended to serve a military purpose beyond financial disruption, Bratchuk said, saying the tactic also forces Russian air defense systems into a constant state of alert. "Even the smallest aerial target must trigger a full air defense response," Bratchuk said. "That's how the system works — for us, for Russia, and for any country." Russia's layered defense network is already under visible strain from Ukraine's now years-long campaign targeting Russian oil production in an attempt to deprive the Kremlin of money to fund its full-scale invasion, as well as military targets like ammunition dumps. Targeting Moscow and the surrounding oblast with increasing numbers of drones could spread Russia's air defenses even thinner. With Russia's air defense units forced to react to every aerial threat, Kyiv appears to be testing the limits of the Kremlin's ability to protect its own territory — a tactic that could lay the groundwork for future strikes with greater precision and deeper penetration. "Maybe this is one element that would enable our combat drones to strike more effectively at military targets," Bratchuk said. "As for military targets, strikes will continue to hit military-industrial sites in Russia. That's the only strategy. But the priorities now are somewhat different," Bratchuk concluded. Hi, this is Tim. Thank you for reading this article. The Kyiv Independent doesn't have a wealthy owner or a paywall. Instead, we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism funded. We're now aiming to grow our community to 20,000 members — if you liked this article, consider joining our community today. Read also: 'We don't want this anymore' — Lavrov confirms Russia has no interest in Ukraine ceasefire We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Drone attacks in 2025 shut down Russian airports record number of times since start of full-scale war
Drone attacks in the first months of 2025 forced Russia to suspend airport operations over 200 times, a record number since the start of the full-scale war, the independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya). Ukraine regularly launches drones at military and industrial targets in Russia, though Kyiv rarely comments on attacks within Russian territory. From January to May 10, 2025, Russian airports shut down a record number of 217 times, Novaya Gazeta Europe reported. In contrast, there were 58 total closures in 2023 and 91 in 2024. The first week of May saw a particularly high number of closures, with restrictions introduced at airports almost 50 times. In the days leading up to Russian President Vladimir Putin's Victory Day parade on May 9, waves of drones targeted Moscow, prompting repeated closures. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) claimed on May 7 that Ukraine's intensifying drone strikes affected 60,000 Russian passengers and that delays and cancelations affected at least 350 flights. According to the analysis, a total of 37 civilian airports have experienced disruptions this year, mostly in central Russia. The highest number of disruptions have occurred at Moscow airports. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept a complete, unconditional 30-day ceasefire. While Moscow has refused, Russian and Ukrainian delegates are expected to meet in Istanbul on May 15 for their first direct peace talks since the early days of the full-scale invasion. Read also: From spy rings to arson — Russia's sabotage across Europe continues unpunished We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kadyrov asks Putin if he can resign as head of Chechen Republic
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin if he can resign as head of the Chechen Republic, he told Russian state-controlled media Chechnya Today on May 6. Kadyrov has ruled Chechnya since 2007. Under his leadership, the Chechen Republic has become known as one of the most dangerous parts of the world, infamous for forced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The U.S. and other Western allies have imposed sanctions against Kadyrov and his family over human rights abuses in Chechnya. "I've heard those rumors (about resignation), too. They say all sorts of things. On the contrary, I am asking to be dismissed from my post," Kadyrov said. "I hope that my request will be supported." Kadyrov clarified that the decision on whether he will be dismissed is up to Putin now. Kadyrov's statement comes amid news that the Chechen dictator's illness, pancreatic necrosis, is progressing rapidly, and he has allegedly appointed his minor son Adam as his successor, according to the independent Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe. This is not the first time Kadyrov has asked for his resignation. He made similar statements in 2016, 2017, and 2022, according to the independent Russian media outlet Astra. In previous cases, his resignation was not approved. Read also: How Kadyrov became so powerful, and why Chechnya remains vital for survival of Putin's regime We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
