Zelenskyy Reports Russia Shifting Air Defenses to Moscow as Ukrainian Drones Strike Deep Inside Country

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on Wednesday that Russia is relocating a significant portion of its air defense systems to protect key targets, including Moscow, following sustained Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian military and energy installations. The redeployment reflects the growing effectiveness of Ukraine's long-range drone campaign, which has caused fuel shortages and disrupted supply lines, hampering Moscow's invasion efforts after more than four years of fighting.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia has concentrated hundreds of air defense missile launchers in the Moscow region alone, with approximately 90 systems redeployed to Valdai, a town roughly 500 kilometers northwest of Moscow where President Vladimir Putin maintains a residence. The defenses also cover the Kerch Bridge, a vital supply corridor connecting Crimea to mainland Russia. Ukrainian drones have recently struck Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, and Ukraine is working to isolate Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia invaded and annexed in 2014. Zelenskyy suggested that these defensive concentrations would leave other parts of Russia vulnerable to Ukraine's increasingly sophisticated long-range drones, which can now travel more than 1,500 kilometers.

Zelenskyy attributed Russia's difficulties to President Putin's refusal to end the war and engage in negotiations. He stated that Ukraine has accepted an unconditional ceasefire as demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, but Putin has declined, and a year of U.S.-led peace initiatives has produced no significant progress. Trump, who has previously criticized Zelenskyy, said Wednesday at the White House that the Ukrainian leader is "courageous" and "doing pretty well" in the conflict.

Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine's prospects have improved through its domestic development and production of advanced drones, which help counter Russia's larger military. He reported securing pledges of sustained foreign support at a recent G7 summit attended by Trump, stating that if Ukraine receives the agreed assistance, it will "quickly create conditions in which Russia will be forced to choose peace." He emphasized that G7 partners "know exactly what we are talking about" regarding specific support needs.

On a separate front, Zelenskyy reported that Belarus, whose manufacturing facilities have supported Moscow's war effort, appears to have deactivated signal repeaters on its territory that were used to guide Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. Zelenskyy had demanded last week that Belarus, located on Ukraine's northern border, remove relay equipment enabling such strikes. Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed the repeaters are now off, though Zelenskyy noted lingering questions about Belarus's intentions.