**Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Strike on Moscow**
On Sunday, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow, hitting the Russian capital with at least 34 drones. This is the biggest drone strike on Moscow since the start of the war in 2022.
The drones forced flights to be diverted from three major airports – Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky – but operations were later resumed. At least five people were injured in the Moscow region.
**Russia Claims Air Defenses Thwarted Attack**
Russia’s defense ministry claimed that air defenses destroyed another 50 drones over other regions of western Russia on Sunday. The ministry described the Ukrainian attack as a “terrorist” attempt to use airplane-type drones on Russian territory.
**Ukraine Says It Launched Record Number of Drones**
For its part, Ukraine said it launched a record number of 145 drones that same night, with 62 of them being downed by air defenses. Ukraine also reported attacking an arsenal in the Bryansk region of Russia, where 14 drones were reportedly downed.
**Key Developments in the War**
As the war enters its 994th day, other key developments include:
* Ukrainian forces have repelled Russian troops near the city of Kupiansk, with some Russian soldiers wearing uniforms resembling those of the Ukrainian military.
* Heavy military activity has been reported in the city of Pokrovsk, with Ukrainian forces repelling all but one of 36 attacks.
* Russia claims to have taken control of the town of Rivnopil in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, while Ukrainian authorities report a Russian attack killed two residents in the village of Shevchenko.
**North Korean Soldiers in Ukraine**
South Korea’s spy agency has reported evidence that North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. The United States is concerned by this development, particularly the potential exchange of technology between Russia and North Korea.
**Russia Prepares Counter-Offensive**
Russia is preparing a 50,000-strong force, including North Korean troops, to launch a counter-offensive against Ukrainian positions in the Kursk Oblast. This comes as Russia suffered heavy losses last month and may be replacing injured or killed Russian soldiers with North Korean troops.
**Ukraine Defends Positions**
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers are holding off nearly 50,000 Russian troops in the embattled Kursk Oblast, with no reduction in personnel carrying out assaults.