UKRAINE has fiercely hit back at despot Vladimir Putin by launching one of their biggest drone attacks of the war so far.
Russian air defences were left scrambling to shoot down Ukraine’s 337 drones across 10 regions, according to Moscow.
East2WestRussian air defences were left scrambling to shoot down Ukraine’s 337 drones across 10 regions, according to local media[/caption]
APCars in Domodedovo, outside Moscow, were left decimated in the strikes[/caption]
East2WestA house was seen up in flames after the Ukrainian strikes[/caption]
East2WestFlames burned through the night after the string of attacks[/caption]
ReutersAn apartment damaged by Ukraine’s drone attack[/caption]
The swarm of strikes on Putin’s capital came as President Volodymyr Zelensky’s negotiators are due to start talks with Donald Trump’s team in Saudi Arabia today.
At least one person has been killed and three others injured in the “massive” attack, Russian officials claim.
Drones were shot down over Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk and Voronezh on the border with Ukraine.
Other areas deeper inside Russia were also hit including Kaluga, Lipetsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol and Ryazan.
Kremlin loyalist and Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said: “The most massive attack of enemy UAVs on Moscow has been repelled.
“Hundreds of combat drones have been shot down at various points.”
Russian officials described it as a “mass attack” and said it was the first major strike on the capital since November.
One drone blast exploded in Kurchatov, a town close to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.
Kursk was one of the main targets for the drones outside of Moscow after intense battlefield fighting in recent days.
Around 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are facing complete encirclement having been left trapped and fighting blind in the region.
Kyiv has frantically fought to maintain its position in occupied Kursk to serve as leverage for potential peace talks.
Embattled troops are now facing an assault from a new wave of more advanced Russian drones and kamikaze assaults by North Korean storm brigades.
Ukraine is facing an advantage that Russia has long endured over its enemy – sheer manpower and endless waves for the meat grinder.
Some sources have blamed the advances over the last few days on the suspension of US intelligence by Donald Trump.
Trump’s team argue they are trying to stop the war – insisting they trying to “take a step back” as they play peacemaker.
Elsewhere, four main airports in the capital were also disrupted overnight due to the drone strikes.
Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukova and Zhukovsky all faced dozens of arrival diversions and delayed takeoffs due to the raging fires and smoke flying overhead.
The Ukrainian strikes follow on from Russia launching their own devastating attacks over the weekend.
At least 25 people were killed in the brutal overnight blitz with more than 40 people wounded, including six children in the Donetsk region.
President Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of using “vile and inhumane tactics” – intentionally targeting emergency services who arrived at the scene of the first strike with a second missile.
Other attacks were simultaneously launched in the Kharkiv region in the north-east of the country, causing the deaths of at least three men and another seven injured.
Putin’s actions came just hours after President Donald Trump issued a crippling threat telling him to stop “pounding” Ukraine.
Footage showed the hellish carnage in Dobropillia as the strikes destroyed eight five-story buildings, an administrative building, and 30 cars.
The week that changed history
THE shocking White House bust up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky plunged global politics into a whirlwind of a week.
Friday, February 28 – Trump and Zelensky’s showdown
The Oval Office bust up between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky will go down in history.
Tensions exploded inside the White House as Trump yelled at Zelensky, accusing him of “gambling with World War Three” and calling him “ungrateful.”
The meeting – meant to finalise a critical minerals deal — descended into chaos at one point with all three men seen leaning forward, pointing fingers, and throwing their arms around in fury.
The fallout sent shockwaves through Washington.
Saturday, March 1 – Starmer supports Zelensky
Zelensky jetted to London for talks with Sir Keir Starmer and Europe.
As they held talks, which would have included the Oval Office showdown, Starmer comforted Zelensky in saying that he has “full backing across the United Kingdom”.
Sunday, March 2 – Europe rallies around Ukraine
A crucial security summit at Lancaster House was hosted by Starmer and saw dozens of nations attend to discuss US-Europe relations and the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.
The meeting, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, saw a major push for a new military alliance to guarantee Ukraine’s future.
Afterwards, Starmer announced that a “coalition of the willing” would come together and devise a peace plan to end the bloody war.
Monday, March 3 – Trump lashes out at Zelensky again
The start of the week saw Trump continue to pile pressure on Zelensky as his allegiance with Europe appeared to dwindle further away.
In a brutal Truth Social put down, Trump blasted Zelensky as a “guy who doesn’t want there to be peace”.
The Republican was responding to a quote from the Ukrainian leader in which he said an end to the conflict with Russia is still “very, very far away”.
Hours after the social media attack, Trump then paused all US military aid to Ukraine for the foreseeable future.
Tuesday, March 4 – Zelensky “regrets” Trump fallout
Zelensky came out and publicly said he is ready to work “under Donald Trump” and “regrets” his brutal Oval Office row with the President.
He went on to share his own vision for peace that would involve bringing all parties to the table and included a ban on missiles and drones and releasing POWs.
Wednesday, March 5 – Trump reveals “olive branch” to Congress
As much of Europe woke up on Wednesday, Donald Trump’s first historic address to Congress added another twist to the chaotic week.
In a fiery 100-minute speech, Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine as he revealed he had received a letter from Zelensky and that Vladimir Putin was “ready for peace.”
The important US-Ukraine minerals deal was also ready to be signed, Trump said per Zelensky’s words.
Thursday, March 6 – Europe gathers for key defence summit
A key emergency summit was held in Brussels on Thursday with European leaders to discuss the Ukraine war.
Dozens of prime ministers and presidents attended from Ukraine’s Zelensky to France’s Macron.
Zelensky said he discussed strengthening his country’s defence as well as negotiations for Kyiv’s EU accession in the summit.
Friday, March 7 – Trump turns on Putin
Trump blasted Putin in a fierce condemnation of Russia’s war in Ukraine – demanding both sides “get to the table right now”.
The US President issued a fiery rebuke of the Russians as they once again launched a huge blitz on Ukrainian civilians overnight.
In the latest unpredictable move from the Republican, he wrote: “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!”
ReutersDebris was left strewn across 10 regions of Russia overnight[/caption]
East2WestA burning wreckage of a car in Russia[/caption]
