Ukrainian drone raids on Moscow and surrounding regions began at 23:00 on 14 December, lasting until the early hours of 15 December, with footage of explosions shared online.
Ukrainian attacks on Russia
According to Russian Defence Ministry statements, the drone strikes started at about 23:00 on 14 December and continued into the morning of 15 December. Drones were sighted in the Moscow region (at least 25), Belgorod (eight), Rostov (eight), Astrakhan (at least 38), Tula (six) and Kursk (three). Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that more than 30 drones were intercepted by air‑defence systems en route to the capital. Ukraine also targeted Russian fuel infrastructure in the Caspian Sea during the same period.
Serious disruptions in Russia
The drones aimed to damage power grids in Belgorod and Rostov‑on‑Don, leaving several districts without electricity and heating. Local media noted a halt in operations at a local combined heat‑and‑power plant. A chemical plant in the Astrakhan region, which processes sulfur and gas, sustained damage. Witnesses over Moscow observed flashes from air‑defence intercepts and heard explosions, while Zhukovsky and Domodedovo airports were closed for several hours. Footage of the attacks and explosions appeared on the internet.
Further peace talks scheduled
On 15 December in Berlin, Ukrainian‑American talks on a peace plan will be held with the aim of presenting a position to President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. delegation is led by Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, while the Ukrainian delegation is headed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. European leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are set to join the afternoon session. It is the second day of negotiations; Witkoff reported significant progress following yesterday’s U.S.–Ukrainian talks. The core compromise involves territorial issues: Russia seeks the entirety of Donbas, the U.S. proposes Ukrainian withdrawal, and a demilitarised zone, while Ukraine calls for a freeze of the front line and equal withdrawal of both sides.