Tue Nov 26 14:24:47 UTC 2024: ## Record Drone Attack on Ukraine as Tensions Soar After Russian Missile Strike

**Brussels/Kyiv** – Ukraine reported a record-breaking overnight drone attack by Russia, with 188 Iranian-made Shahed drones and other unidentified drones launched towards the country. The Ukrainian air force claimed to have shot down 76, while another 95 were lost or downed by electronic warfare. The attack, which included four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, resulted in damage to critical infrastructure and civilian buildings across multiple regions, including Kyiv, where explosions were heard. Power outages were reported in the western Ternopil region.

This escalation follows Russia’s launch of a nuclear-capable missile last week, which struck the city of Dnipro, prompting Ukraine to convene a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in Brussels. While the meeting is expected to reiterate NATO’s support for Ukraine, diplomats have downplayed expectations of significant outcomes. The Kremlin dismissed the meeting as unlikely to produce substantial decisions.

Russia’s actions have sparked intense international concern. The Kremlin refused to confirm reports that Ukraine used US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles in strikes on Russian territory this week, but blamed Washington for escalating the conflict. President Vladimir Putin defended last week’s missile strike as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil, warning that Moscow reserves the right to target military facilities in countries supporting Ukraine’s military efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed for advanced air defense systems to counter the new threat.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Russia claims advances in eastern Ukraine, reporting the capture of the village of Kopanky in the Kharkiv region. Furthermore, Russia announced the detention of a British national, James Scott Rhys Anderson, accused of participating in hostilities in the Kursk region while fighting for Ukraine. The escalating conflict continues to raise anxieties as fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine and diplomatic efforts struggle to de-escalate the situation.

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