Summary of Key Events on Day 1,111 of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Military Actions

• A significant Ukrainian drone strike in Moscow resulted in one civilian death and three injuries, as per reports.
• Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that Russian air defense units intercepted at least 69 drones aimed at the city, with later reports suggesting the attack involved over 90 drones.
• Due to the assault, four Moscow region airports and the Domodedovo train station suspended operations, and several buildings suffered damage. A large fire in a car park also occurred in the Russian capital as reported by TASS.
• Pro-Russian military bloggers claimed that Kremlin forces advanced deeper into the Kursk region as part of a major operation to push out Ukrainian forces occupying territory in Russia.
• Ukraine’s chief military officer, Oleksandr Syrskii, dismissed the notion of his forces being surrounded by Russian troops, stating that the situation remains under control but expressed the need for additional reinforcements, such as electronic warfare and unmanned components.
• Ukraine’s military reported intercepting 130 out of 176 Russian drones launched overnight, with another 42 failing to hit their targets.
• Andriy Demchenko, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s border guards, indicated that Russian troops are attempting to establish an active conflict zone in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, close to the Russian Kursk region.
• The Russian emergency ministry declared a significant fire in the Samara region following a Ukrainian drone attack, with no injuries reported.

• The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff announced strikes on two Russian oil refineries in the Ryazan and Samara regions, which supplied fuel to Moscow’s armed forces.
• Three individuals were killed and nine injured in a Ukrainian attack on Belaya village in Russia’s Kursk region, according to the regional governor Alexander Khinshtein.

Politics and Diplomacy Updates

• Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Saudi Arabia ahead of Kyiv-Washington talks aimed at ending Russia’s war on Ukraine.
• According to AFP, citing a Ukrainian official, Kyiv intends to propose a partial ceasefire, focusing on aerial and naval engagements, during the talks in Saudi Arabia.

• A Ukrainian government source informed AFP that Russia secured a significant advantage during a pause in US military intelligence sharing with Ukrainian forces.
• Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff stated that Washington anticipates substantial progress in discussions with Ukraine this week, including the signing of a rare earths deal.
• Witkoff affirmed that intelligence sharing with Ukraine would also be on the agenda for this week’s meetings. He denied claims that the US had cut off Ukrainian officers from receiving intelligence for defense needs.
• Zelenskyy pledged a fully “constructive” approach by Ukraine in talks with the US, expressing hope for practical outcomes from the Saudi Arabia negotiations that could conclude Russia’s war in his country.
• Russia’s FSB security service announced the expulsion of two UK diplomats on suspicion of espionage, identified as the second secretary of the UK embassy and the husband of the first secretary.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office stated plans to host virtual talks involving nations willing to support a ceasefire in Ukraine.