Moscow, Oct 8 (V7N) – Ukraine carried out large-scale drone strikes targeting multiple Russian regions for the second consecutive night, marking one of the most significant aerial assaults in recent weeks. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, nearly 200 Ukrainian drones were deployed overnight on Monday. Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 184 during the night, followed by 34 more on Tuesday morning.

Authorities in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod, confirmed that about 30 drones were shot down in the area. Governor Gleb Nikitin reported that debris fell in industrial zones but caused no major damage. Ukrainian officials, however, claimed that their drones targeted the Y.M. Sverdlov Explosives Plant, a key Russian explosive production facility. Additional damages were reported in Voronezh and Belgorod regions. The previous night, Russia claimed to have destroyed 251 Ukrainian drones in a coordinated defense effort.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s 141st Mechanized Brigade reported a successful assault in the Sychne area, killing 50 Russian soldiers and capturing eight others. The battle occurred near the Dnipropetrovsk–Donetsk border, where recent reports indicate intensified fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that counteroffensive operations over the past few days have led to the recapture of at least seven settlements.

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the Oval Office that he is close to deciding whether to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. “I’ve nearly made up my mind,” Trump said, adding that he first wants to know “where these weapons will be used.” He emphasized that he does not intend to escalate the war but expressed concern over Russia’s rigid position, calling it “a serious challenge for peace efforts.”

Ukraine has long requested Tomahawk missiles, which can strike targets between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometers away, potentially allowing Kyiv to reach Moscow directly. The Kremlin has warned that supplying such missiles would signal “a dangerous new phase” in the ongoing conflict.

This sustained drone offensive highlights both the intensifying aerial threat along Russian territory and the ongoing strategic considerations of international actors in the conflict.

END/WD/AJ/