KYIV, Ukraine – A massive seaplane strike hit Moscow and its suburbs overnight Sunday, injuring dozens of people and temporarily halting traffic on some of Russia's busiest airports, officials reported. At that time, a large night wave of Russian drones was targeting Ukraine.
This happened after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement with North Korea on Saturday night, committing the two countries to provide immediate military assistance using “all means” if attacked. The agreement marks the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.
Earlier this week, Ukraine reported that its military engaged for the first time with North Korean units. US officials have previously confirmed the deployment of at least 3,000 North Korean troops to Russia, with Kyiv saying the number is much higher. This has fueled concerns about a significant escalation of Moscow's war in Ukraine, as well as tensions spilling over into the Asia-Pacific.
The UK estimates Russian military losses at 700,000
Both Moscow and Kyiv have kept their casualty figures tight since the start of the full-scale war despite widespread reports that Russian forces are suffering heavy losses following “human wave” attacks aimed at overwhelming Ukraine's defenses.
However, the head of defense in the UK, Tony Radakin, told the BBC that the Russian military suffered the most in the month of October since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. and they were wounded in a day, making their total loss in the war 700,000.
According to Radakin, ordinary Russians were paying an “extraordinary price” for the war, even as Russia's tiresome months-long offensive in Ukraine's industrial east continues to pay dividends. He did not say how UK officials had calculated the number of Russian casualties.
“There is no doubt that Russia is making tactical, territorial gains and that is putting pressure on Ukraine,” he said. But he added that they are “slow-rising areas,” and Moscow's heavy spending on defense and security is creating difficulties for the country.
Radakin stressed that Ukraine's Western partners should resist it “as long as it takes” to bring back Russia's aggression, even as supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump have signaled that Kyiv may cede territory to seek peace.
Russia is very optimistic about Trump's upcoming presidency
On Sunday, the Kremlin's official spokesman expressed confidence in President Trump's position, saying: “At least he's talking about peace.” … He doesn't talk about arguing.”
“The signs are positive. Trump, during his election campaign, said that he sees everything in terms of agreements, that he can make agreements that will lead everyone to peace,” Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a press conference.
“He does not talk about the desire to defeat Russia, and this clearly distinguishes him from the current (US) administration,” Peskov said.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday stressed that “strong decisions” from Kyiv's Western allies are needed to stop the “fear” of Russian airstrikes and missiles, and to secure Ukraine's “trustworthy peace”.
“The killing of children, the loss of family members cannot simply be forgotten,” Zelenskyy said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
“Without strong decisions, there is no immunity from fear, and this is equally clear in all countries. There is no reliable peace without justice,” he said.
Continuing to fight causes damage and accidents on both sides
Fierce fighting continued in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Toretsk and Kurakhove, the General Staff of Ukraine reported on Sunday. Between 700 and 1,000 XNUMX residents remain in Kurakhove, the main city surrounded on three sides and has been destroyed. Most of them live underground without running water, heating or electricity.
Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said 84 Ukrainian planes had been shot down overnight over Russian territory, following what it called a “massive strike on civilian infrastructure.” A man died under rubble after drones crashed into his apartment in Belgorod region, Russia. kilometers from the Ukrainian border, said Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Five other people were injured in the Moscow suburb of Ramenskoe and a nearby village, according to local officials. Russian channels on the Telegram messaging app carried eyewitness reports of plane debris on fire in suburban homes.
Aviation authorities in Russia said flights were temporarily grounded at major international airports including Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. At least 14 Moscow-bound flights were diverted to Nizhnyi Novgorod, a city 490 kilometers (300 miles) to the east, airport officials there said.
Ukraine's General Staff said on Sunday that Ukrainian planes had caused a fire at a weapons depot in Russia's southern Bryansk region, close to Ukraine and Belarus. An online update showed a photo showing plumes of red smoke rising into the night sky. The AP could not confirm the circumstances under which it was taken, and there was no immediate comment from Russia.
Separately, emergency services in Russia on Sunday said a large fire had broken out at a warehouse outside Moscow. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and it was unclear whether the fire was related to Ukraine's drone strikes.
Russia overnight launched a “record” 145 drones on Ukrainian territory, according to the Ukrainian military, 62 of which were shot down. Another 67 were “lost,” the air force said, possibly referring to electronic malfunctions that caused the drones to go astray.
At least one person was injured when Russian warplanes attacked residential areas in the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, reported Gov. By the local Kiper. At least five people, including a 17-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, were injured by drone debris and bombings in northeastern Ukraine, Kharkiv on Sunday, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov and local prosecutors.
Russia later on Sunday said it had attacked dozens of Ukrainian troops in Kharkiv province with rockets, but did not immediately provide evidence.
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