- Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Ukrainian long-range drones have severely damaged deep-seated Russian positions, and Russia is shifting a significant portion of its air defense forces to protect a few core targets like Moscow.
- According to the Associated Press, Zelensky said on Thursday (25th) that in the latest round of overnight attacks, Kyiv's forces hit two more Russian refineries located in Ufa (1,500 kilometers from the front line) and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region (300 kilometers from Ukraine).
- In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its aerial strikes on Russian military and energy facilities, leading to fuel shortages in Russia, disrupting Russian supply lines, and stalling Moscow's full-scale invasion.
Zelensky said on Wednesday night that Russia is transferring more air defense systems to the capital and to Valdai, a town about 500 kilometers northwest of Moscow, where Russian President Putin has a residence.
Zelensky mentioned that the Russian military is also protecting the Kerch Bridge, a critical supply route connecting the Crimean Peninsula with mainland Russia.
Zelensky claimed that in the Moscow region alone, Russia has assembled hundreds of air defense missile launchers, with nearly 90 launchers redeployed from other parts of Russia to Valdai.
Zelensky suggested that the redeployment of air defense systems will make other regions of Russia more vulnerable to Ukrainian long-range drone attacks, as Ukrainian drones now have a range exceeding 1,500 kilometers.
Western officials and experts point out that after more than four years of a grueling war of attrition, Ukraine's prospects have improved, with its domestically developed and produced advanced drones successfully holding back the larger Russian forces.
