Russia Shoots Down 126 Ukrainian Drones After Rejecting US Ceasefire Proposal

Russia announced on Saturday that it had intercepted 126 Ukrainian drones overnight, with most of them targeting its southern Volgograd and Voronezh regions. This development comes shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed an immediate ceasefire proposal from the United States, citing concerns over its implementation.

The Russian Defence Ministry detailed that 64 of the drones were taken down over Volgograd and Voronezh, while the remaining were intercepted in various border regions. Moscow has repeatedly faced Ukrainian drone attacks since the start of its military campaign, with Kyiv ramping up its strikes deep into Russian territory. Just days ago, Ukraine launched its most extensive drone assault on the Moscow region since the conflict began in 2022.

Putin recently expressed conditional support for a truce but insisted that discussions were necessary before moving forward. He highlighted "serious questions" regarding how such a ceasefire would be enforced and hinted at wanting further dialogue with former US President Donald Trump. The Kremlin has maintained that any peace initiative must consider Russia’s strategic interests, a stance that remains at odds with Kyiv and its Western allies.

As both sides continue their military confrontations, the intensity of attacks suggests that a resolution remains distant. With Ukraine persisting in its drone warfare strategy and Russia countering with air defense measures, the battlefield dynamics are unlikely to change soon, even as diplomatic discussions remain in the background.