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Russia boasts of deployed nuclear capabilities Missiles in Belarus Vladimir Putin sought to escalate tensions in Ukraine on Tuesday just as peace talks appeared to be making progress.
Putin said that the medium-range “Oleshnik” missiles can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 and are not intercepted; Sergei Karakayev, commander of the Russian Missile Forces, previously claimed that these weapons “can hit targets across European territory.”
Tensions between the two countries have increased after Russia accused Ukraine of using 91 drones to attack Putin’s private residence.
Vladimir Zelensky said the claims were “complete fabrications” and aimed at derailing the latest U.S.-brokered talks.
Russia threatened retaliation for the attack, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling the action “state terrorism”, adding: “Such reckless actions will not go unanswered.”
But Russia has failed to provide evidence of the attack and is under increasing pressure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday: “I don’t think there should be any evidence that such a large-scale drone attack was being carried out, which was shot down due to the well-coordinated work of the air defense system.”
The Kremlin sidestepped inquiries, saying the investigation into the wreckage was handled by the Defense Ministry.
Germany shares Ukraine’s concern that Russia’s claims could be used as a pretext for further escalation.
Donald Trump expressed support for Putin amid the accusations, saying he was “very angry” about the alleged attack.
He expressed optimism earlier in the week, saying Sunday’s discussions with Zelensky were “positive” and “terrific” and that “a lot of progress” had been made.
Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine was committed to continuing talks on how to end the war, adding that he was ready to meet Putin in any format.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a government meeting: “Peace is coming, there is no doubt that what has happened gives people reason to believe that this war can end, and soon, but it is still a hope and far from a hundred percent sure.”
german chancellor Friedrich MerzHe, who was also involved in the latest discussions, tempered his enthusiasm and called for a straightforward approach from all sides. “Now we need transparency and honesty from everyone, including Russia,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
Despite Russia’s show of strength, new figures released by the BBC show that the country’s military losses have hit a record high in the nearly four-year conflict.
The report found that Russia published 40% more soldier obituaries in 2025 than in 2024. They identified a total of about 160,000 names of fallen soldiers.
Experts believe this number is far lower than the true death toll, which they say may be between 243,000 and 352,000.
Russia continues to attack Ukrainian infrastructure, attacking civilian port infrastructure. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said a civilian ship and facilities were damaged in the Black Sea ports of Pivdeny and Chernomorsk, leaving one person injured.
“This is yet another targeted Russian attack on civilian port infrastructure,” Mr Kuleba continued. “The enemy is trying to disrupt logistics and complicate transportation.”
Ukrainian authorities this week reopened the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater in Mariupol, three years after a Russian airstrike on the building reportedly killed hundreds of people and condemned it.
The theater was destroyed in a Russian airstrike in March 2022.
An Associated Press investigation found evidence that 600 people had been killed inside and outside the building.
The Ukrainian city council called the event celebrating the opening a “song and dance on the bones.”