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Ukraine reportedly launched at least 337 drones into Russia on Tuesday in the largest-yet drone attack of the Moscow-Kyiv conflict, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
It came just before US and Ukrainian delegations were scheduled to meet for negotiation discussions in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Russia set the previous drone-attack record a little over two weeks ago, when it launched 267 drones at Ukraine in a single night on Feb. 23.
Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on the Russian report.
If true, it could represent a show of strength by Ukraine ahead of its talks with the US in Saudi Arabia.
As the Trump administration pushes for a ceasefire in the conflict, Kyiv has indicated it would be open to one based in the air and at sea.
However, it is likely to frustrate administration officials who have been pushing Ukraine to stop attacking its aggressor. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on Wednesday cut off US intelligence sharing with Kyiv, citing a desire to stop Ukraine from offensive attacks into Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated no desire for any ceasefire, regardless of the domain.
Roughly 126 of the Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Kursk region, which Kyiv has held since launching its bold, first-ever offensive into Russian territory in August.
Ukrainians have been losing significant ground in the region over the past week, losses experts say were hastened by the US decision to halt intelligence sharing.
Another 91 were downed in the Moscow region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 70 drones were taken down en route to the Russian capital.
It comes after Russia has upped its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous Oval Office meeting with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 28. Since then, Russia has launched more than 1,550 drones and 80 missiles into Ukraine.
National security experts say the Tuesday attack may represent a response by Kyiv to Moscow’s increased attacks.
“The message from Kyiv — there are consequences and a cost for ballistic missile and drone attacks like the one we saw in recent days,” the Atlantic Council’s Alex Plitsas said early Tuesday in a post to X.
