Zelensky says Russia is shifting air defenses to Moscow and other key sites after drone strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is shifting a significant portion of its air defenses to protect “prime targets,” including Moscow, after Ukrainian long-range drones hit sites deep inside Russia. In his Thursday remarks, Zelensky said Kyiv’s forces struck two more Russian oil refineries in Ufa, about 930 miles from the front line, and an oil depot in Russia’s Krasnodar region, roughly 180 miles from Ukraine. He also said Russia is moving more air-defense assets to the capital and to Valdai, about 300 miles northwest of Moscow, where President Vladimir Putin has a residence. Zelensky claimed hundreds of launchers have been amassed in the Moscow region, with nearly 90 redeployed to Valdai. The claims could not be independently verified, and Russian officials did not comment. Zelensky linked the redeployments to the vulnerability created by Ukraine’s expanding drone campaign, including strikes reported on Moscow and St. Petersburg. He referenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire demand and Putin’s refusal.