Russian air defense intercepts multiple Ukrainian drones near Kremlin
- Russian air defense reported intercepting seven Ukrainian drones over Moscow last night.
- A Ukrainian attack led to a fire at an oil refinery in Tuapse.
- The events reflect escalating tensions amidst ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
On March 14, 2025, several Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed over Moscow, with some of them reportedly coming alarmingly close to the Kremlin. According to Russian officials, a total of seven drones were intercepted during the overnight hours. At no point were there any casualties reported during this incident, which marks the second Ukrainian attack on the Russian capital in less than a week. Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, specifically indicated that four drones were repelled by Russian air defense forces. In addition to the intercepts over Moscow, there was also a confirmed strike on an oil refinery in Tuapse, as reported by the governor of Krasnodar. Fires have ensued from this attack, spreading rapidly across an area exceeding 1,000 square meters. Photographic and video evidence shared by witnesses showed flames engulfing the facility, identified as an oil refinery operated by Rosneft, indicating the gravity of the incident. The attack on the oil refinery exemplifies the wider conflict, illustrating how the war between Ukraine and Russia is escalating in urban areas and affecting strategic infrastructure. The timing of the drone interceptions coincided with discussions in Moscow involving Trump's Middle East envoy, who arrived for negotiations focused on a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. This ceasefire is seen as an initial step towards a potential peace deal aimed at ending Russia’s ongoing invasion, which has persisted for three years. U.S. and Ukrainian officials had previously agreed to a ceasefire during talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, reflecting a coordinated effort among international players to mitigate the violence arising from the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments regarding the ceasefire discussions as expectable and manipulative. He posited that Putin avoids direct confrontation on his intentions to maintain military action in Ukraine and to continue the conflict against his countrymen, thus manipulating discussions to delay concrete resolutions. This dynamic adds further tension to an already fraught situation as leaders grapple with the fallout from ongoing strikes and an unstable peace process.