Ukraine Launches Second Major Strike on Moscow in 5 Days, Leaving 21.5M Shaken

In mid-December 2025, Ukraine’s drone war reached a new intensity inside Russia, with unprecedented strikes on Moscow’s air hub, major chemical and oil facilities, and even offshore platforms in the Caspian Sea. The operations, carried out as diplomatic efforts advanced on a U.S.-brokered peace plan, underscored Kyiv’s strategy of hitting deep inside Russian territory to raise the economic and military cost of the four-year conflict.

Drone Waves Shut Moscow’s Airports And Hit Industry

In the largest such operation against the Russian capital, Ukrainian drones triggered a massive shutdown of Moscow’s air traffic in early December. Russian air defenses reported intercepting 287 drones over several regions, forcing Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports to halt operations for about seven hours. Around 200 flights were delayed or cancelled, disrupting travel in the wider metropolitan area of more than 21 million people.

Five days later, another wave followed. On the night of December 14–15, Russian officials said 130 drones were intercepted, including 25 over Moscow Oblast and 15 directed at the city itself. The repeated strikes suggested Ukraine had built the ability to sustain large-scale drone operations despite Russia’s extensive air defense network.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the December 10 barrage “the most massive” attack the region had experienced since the invasion began. Emergency services deployed across the capital and surrounding areas to deal with fires and damage caused by falling wreckage.

Russian authorities also reported that Ukrainian drones struck two significant chemical facilities during the December assault. One attack hit the Acron mineral fertilizer plant in Veliky Novgorod, among Russia’s largest producers of ammonium nitrate, a key component for explosives. The regional governor reported one injury and described the structural damage as limited, though video from the scene showed fires burning at the complex. Another series of strikes reportedly targeted the PAO Dorogobuzh chemical plant in Smolensk region near the Belarusian border. Russian officials accused Kyiv of intentionally going after facilities storing highly hazardous substances; Ukraine has not publicly confirmed targeting these sites.

Civilian Casualties In Southern Russia And Deep Strikes On Energy

Beyond the capital region, December’s drone campaign caused rising casualties in Russia’s south and further damage to infrastructure far from the front lines. On December 18, strikes in the Rostov region killed three people, including two crew members aboard a cargo ship in the port of Rostov-on-Don. The attack on the vessel also injured three other sailors. In nearby Bataysk, a civilian was killed and six more were wounded when two homes caught fire after drone impacts.

Earlier in the month, on December 12, two people died in the Saratov region when drones hit a residential building and damaged a kindergarten and a polyclinic. Authorities noted that no children or patients were inside the educational and medical facilities at the time, limiting the number of casualties.

Throughout December, Ukrainian forces also focused heavily on Russia’s energy sector. Strikes were reported against several oil refineries and fuel depots across different regions. On December 13–14, drones hit the Afipsky Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai and fuel storage sites in occupied Crimea. A December 17 attack on the Slavyansk refinery sparked fires that disrupted power for tens of thousands of residents in the surrounding area.

In one of the month’s most notable developments, Ukrainian drones repeatedly struck Russian offshore oil platforms in the Caspian Sea. Within a single week, three separate attacks targeted the Filanovsky and Korchagin platforms operated by a Lukoil subsidiary. Both installations were forced to suspend operations. The Filanovsky field alone is estimated to contain 129 million tons of oil, making it one of Russia’s largest reserves. The hits on these remote facilities were widely viewed as evidence of a significant technological and operational leap in Ukraine’s long-range capabilities.

Kyiv’s security services signaled that such actions are part of a broader strategy. Sources from the Security Service of Ukraine stated that no facility contributing to Russia’s war effort is safe “regardless of its location,” highlighting an emphasis on undermining military logistics and economic assets rather than focusing solely on changes to front-line control.

Diplomatic Openings And Sticking Points Over Territory

Even as the drone campaign intensified, Ukrainian and Western officials reported progress on a U.S.-mediated roadmap to end the war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the emerging proposals as “not perfect” but “very workable,” while U.S. officials said there is about 90 percent agreement between Kyiv and European partners on a framework. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said the sides are “closer now than we have been ever” to a settlement, with the draft plan reportedly providing for strong security guarantees, U.S.-led monitoring of any cease-fire, and a European multinational protection force.

Core disputes over territory, however, remain unresolved. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded recognition of all areas currently held by Russian forces, including Crimea, as part of the Russian Federation. Zelenskyy, in contrast, has rejected any recognition of Russian control over the Donbas regions seized since 2014. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Moscow is seeking a comprehensive and lasting agreement rather than a temporary pause that could allow Ukraine to rebuild its forces, underscoring how far apart the two sides remain.

Europe Divided Over Frozen Assets As Zelenskyy Presses For Support

At the same time, European Union leaders are debating how far to go in using frozen Russian central bank reserves to sustain Ukraine’s government and war effort in 2026–2027. The European Commission has proposed a package of loans to Kyiv of roughly €90 billion, around two-thirds of the country’s projected €137 billion financing need, funded in part from proceeds linked to about €210 billion in immobilized Russian assets.

Belgium, which holds approximately €185 billion of those reserves through the Euroclear clearing system, has expressed caution over the legal and political risks. The Russian central bank has launched a lawsuit seeking $230 billion in damages from Euroclear, deepening concerns in Brussels over potential retaliation and complicating efforts to reach consensus among EU states. The legal uncertainty around using the funds has become a central obstacle to finalizing a broad European support package.

Zelenskyy has urged European leaders to act quickly, arguing that the outcome of current deliberations must convince Moscow there is no benefit in prolonging large-scale fighting next year because Ukraine will retain substantial backing. He has said that if diplomacy fails, Western partners should increase pressure through tougher sanctions and more advanced arms deliveries. The December drone campaign, with strikes stretching from Moscow to the Caspian Sea, illustrates Kyiv’s intent to keep elevating costs for Russia while the diplomatic and financial debates continue.