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Moscow’s Valdai Drone-Attack Claim Rebuffed as Russia Hits Ukraine’s Grid and Battles Intensify Near Pokrovsk

Analysts in Kyiv call the claim a Kremlin information operation meant to stiffen Russia’s negotiating posture after recent USUkraine talks.

Overview

  • Institute for the Study of War and Ukrainian intelligence report no open-source evidence of a 91-drone strike on Putin’s Valdai residence, noting conflicting Russian figures and characterizing the story as manufactured.
  • Ukrenergo reports large outages in Chernihiv with additional blackouts in Kharkiv and Sumy, while DTEK says fully restoring damaged Odesa substations will take one to two years.
  • By 16:00 local time the General Staff recorded 63 combat engagements, with roughly a third on the Pokrovsk axis, as Ukrainian units use drones to control approaches and repel river crossings and raids near Dronivka.
  • Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi directs expansion of UAV-interceptor units, ground stations and radars to counter drones flying at ultra-low altitudes, building layered interception belts around major cities.
  • Ukrainian authorities say Russian drones struck two civilian ships and port facilities in Odesa region, injuring crew members and threatening grain flows and wider food security.