Putin promises revenge after Ukraine unleashes huge Moscow drone blitz | World | News

Putin threatened new attacks on Kiev following a major Ukrainian drone operation targeting Moscow and other areas across the country.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was attending the G7 summit, Kiev launched hundreds of drones towards Russia, including strikes targeting the Moscow Oil Refinery.

Images shared online showed thick black smoke rising over the Russian capital, with one resident describing the scene as “pure hell”.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said that air defense intercepted 194 UAVs approaching the city, while the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that more than 550 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down across the country.

In response, Moscow vowed to continue carrying out “large group attacks” against Kiev.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: “It is no coincidence that the President announced some time ago, after another demonstration by Kiev terrorists, that we will now regularly carry out large group attacks.

“This duty was given by the Commander-in-Chief and our armed forces are fulfilling it and will continue to do so,” he said.

Ukraine started a strike

Mr Zelensky described the drone strikes as a “completely justified” response to Russian attacks carried out earlier this week, according to GB News

Ukraine’s President said Russian drones damaged the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, which he described as “the holiest place in Ukraine” and an important site for the Orthodox Catholic Church.

“It is time for the war to end and for Russia to take the necessary steps in diplomacy,” Zelensky said.

In his Telegram message, he warned that Ukraine would need at least 300 additional missiles and a winter fuel aid package if the conflict continued through the winter.

Mr Zelensky also renewed his call for Ukraine to quickly enter the European Union, describing membership as the “most important” step towards securing the country’s future defence.

Are European leaders pushing for negotiations?

Voices within the bloc have called for talks with Mr. Putin as part of efforts to end the conflict.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker told the Financial Times that the wars were ended through “successful diplomacy”.

“And for diplomacy to be successful, you need talks, negotiations, and these channels need to be opened first,” he said.

What is Putin doing as tensions rise?

The Russian leader is currently hosting a summit attended by ASEAN countries.

Mr. Putin is meeting with representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.

Speaking from Kazan, Putin said: “This is a strategic partnership that serves as a key stabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific amidst geopolitical turbulence, contributing to the formation of a balanced security architecture and fair, mutually beneficial cooperation.” he said.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump He also called for peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Before the memorandum of understanding between the USA and Iran was signed, the US President met with Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in what the Ukrainian leader described as a “coordination meeting”.

“I am grateful to President Trump for his interest in Ukraine and his readiness to help bring peace closer. I am grateful to Emmanuel for the excellent organization of the summit and the consistently strong joint work,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

The Kremlin later claimed that European leaders had probably “unloaded” Mr Trump with “harmful ideas”.

Foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov stated that the US President was misinformed about the developments in Ukraine and said that Moscow is still waiting for a visit from US ambassadors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.