The latest attack, without any provocation from Ukraine, might cost Moscow any international favor it has gained lately from the Trump administration in the United States.
Last week, the Russian military launched the largest missile and drone attack against Ukraine in 2025. The Russian forces fired a salvo of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as suicide drones against targets in Ukraine.
The unprovoked attack came at a point in the war in which Russia has the upper hand, both militarily and diplomatically.
A Massive Missile and Drone Attack Against Ukraine
“Alongside up to 35 As-23a KODIAK Air Launched Cruise Missiles, Russia also launched Land Attack Cruise Missiles from Black Sea Fleet vessel alongside Short Range Ballistic Missiles and more than 100 One Way Attack UAVs, all of which serve to complicate and saturate Ukrainian Air Defense efforts,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in a recent intelligence estimate.
The Russian military has been using a variety of platforms to support its long-range fires campaign against Ukraine, including strategic bombers, fighter jets, and submarines.
“Russia continues to strike a range of targets, including the Ukrainian energy sector, predominantly gas infrastructure, seeking to exploit the winter period as it attempts to demoralise the civilian population as well as weaken the Ukrainian economy,” the British Ministry of Defence added.
Russia has long now weaponized long-range strikes. In just over three years of combat, the Russian military has fired thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles against Ukrainian urban centers, critical infrastructure, and energy sector targets.
“The KODIAK remains the pace setter for Russian large scale strike packages, with a number of lower-intensity strikes this year allowing a slow replenishment in the stocks of Russia’s premier precision guided munition,” the British Ministry of Defence added.
For some time now, the Kremlin had reserved long-range strikes against its neighbor as retaliation for Ukrainian successes—sinking warships, taking out important military targets, and launching sabotage operations. It seems possible that launching the largest missile and drone attack in a while right now could backfire for Russia. After all, the parties have met in Saudi Arabia for discussions to end the conflict. The latest attack, without any provocation from Ukraine, might cost Moscow any international favor it has gained lately from the Trump administration in the United States.
Dassault Mirage Fighter Jets in Action
This is not to say that Kyiv is defenseless against Russia’s latest attacks. The Ukrainian Air Force recently received the first batch of Dassault Mirage fighter jets from France. And the French-made aircraft are already proving their worth.
In the recent Russian missile and suicide drone attack, Ukrainian Dassault Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets claimed to have shot down several incoming Kh-101 cruise missiles.
The efficiency of the whole transfer is also remarkable. The French government announced the transfer of several Dassault Mirage 2000 about a year ago. In less than a year, Ukrainian pilots and maintainers received training on a completely new type of fighter jet, then received the aircraft, and promptly began shooting down enemy systems.
Usually, that process would take years. But the demands of a large-scale war shows that there can sometimes be efficiency when there is a pressing need for it.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / zef art.
