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Moscow Claims Ukraine Planned to Start a War Between Russia and the U.K.
Confirmed
In Short: Russia has intensified its use of jet-powered drones in Ukraine, according to BBC Verify, with attacks growing from 350 in June to 2,800 in August. Ukraine's military data shows a significant increase in drone strikes, while Kyiv reports a drop in missile interceptions.
The proliferation of these advanced drones is part of a broader strategy by Moscow, which is now using over 15 times as many drones per attack as it was four years ago, according to Ukrainian Air Force data.
BBC Verify analysis of Ukrainian Air Force data has found that Russia fired its new rapid, jet-powered drones against Ukraine every day throughout August, escalating its use of a weapon that Kyiv's air defences are struggling to deal with.
Ukrainian officials reported that jet-powered drone attacks grew from 350 in June to 1,600 in July and 2,800 in August, marking the first time daily attacks by Moscow's new upgraded Geran drones were recorded in Ukrainian Air Force data.
The reason for turning to jet-powered drones is that they are much faster than the previous generation and it makes it much more difficult for Ukraine to intercept them, according to Dr Marina Miron, an expert on military technology at King's College London.
What's confirmed
- The proliferation of these advanced drones is part of a broader strategy by Moscow, which is now using over 15 times as many drones per attack as it was four years ago, according to Ukrainian Air Force data.
- BBC Verify analysis of Ukrainian Air Force data has found that Russia fired its new rapid, jet-powered drones against Ukraine every day throughout August, escalating its use of a weapon that Kyiv's air defences are struggling to deal with.
- Ukrainian officials reported that jet-powered drone attacks grew from 350 in June to 1,600 in July and 2,800 in August, marking the first time daily attacks by Moscow's new upgraded Geran drones were recorded in Ukrainian Air Force data.
- The reason for turning to jet-powered drones is that they are much faster than the previous generation and it makes it much more difficult for Ukraine to intercept them, according to Dr Marina Miron, an expert on military technology at King's College London.
What's still developing
- Meanwhile, satellite images appear to show Moscow is redesigning key facilities dedicated to fighting the war in Ukraine to host jet-powered drones, with longer rails associated with the munitions visible at an entirely new base at Tsymbulova in the Oryol region.
- The increase in the size of the strikes is being powered by Moscow's shift towards combining a "greater variety of munitions" - including jet-powered and decoy drones - with expensive ballistic missiles that are extremely difficult to intercept, analyst Michael Bohnert of the RAND think tank told BBC Verify.
- Ukraine's Air Force data showed a drop in interceptions of ballistic missiles up to the end of July.
- Earlier this year Ukraine showed relative success in countering Russian drones and was intercepting 94% of long-range drones, according to Zelensky.
- Fox News reporter Stephanie Bennett has the latest on U.S. peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the Trump administration pushes to revive stalled peace negotiations, with discussions focusing on a potential path toward ending the war and broader diplomatic efforts on 'Special Report.' Ukrainian drones struck deep into Russia’s Arctic north Wednesday, sparking a fire at an industrial facility in Novy Urengoy, a city in the heart of Russia’s most important natural-gas producing region.
- Russian officials said air defenses repelled the attack but falling debris sparked a fire. (East2West) Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he had just spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested both Moscow and Kyiv may be prepared to negotiate.
- Russia resumed major missile and drone attacks on Kyiv shortly after the American delegation left Ukraine, killing five people and wounding 35 on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
- A European intelligence source told Fox News Digital that the simultaneous diplomacy and military escalation reflects a long-standing dilemma for Western governments trying to engage Moscow.