Published: 13:29, December 12, 2025 | Updated: 14:56, December 12, 2025
Mass drone attack over Moscow forces flight suspensions
By Xinhua
In this file photo dated July 28, 2025, people wait for their flights at the Sheremetyevo International Airport on the outskirts of Moscow. (PHOTO / AFP)

MOSCOW/KYIV/BERLIN - Moscow came under a mass drone attack from Wednesday night to Thursday, with 32 drones shot down, said Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.

All Moscow airports have suspended inbound and outbound flights. Dozens of flights have been rerouted to an alternate airport, and the primary burden fell on St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, local media reported.

According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, 287 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over Russian airspace during the previous night. 

Ten US-made rockets, around 400 Ukrainian drones shot down

Russia's air defense systems have also shot down 10 US-made HIMARS rockets, one Ukrainian Neptune long-range guided missile, and around 400 Ukrainian drones over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Additionally, Russia's Black Sea Fleet destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel in the central Black Sea, the ministry said in a statement.

Also, Russian troops have destroyed energy and fuel facilities used by the Ukrainian military, along with temporary deployment sites for Ukrainian service members and foreign mercenaries across over 100 locations, the ministry noted.

In this handout photograph taken and released by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Dec 9, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto (not in photo) in Moscow. (PHOTO / AFP)

Lavrov: Over 11,000 bodies sent to Ukraine

In another development, Russia has transferred more than 11,000 bodies of fallen Ukrainian servicemen to Ukraine, while receiving 201 bodies of Russian soldiers from the Ukrainian side, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

During the second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul this June, the two sides reached an agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war and the remains of fallen soldiers.

Following the agreement, several rounds of exchanges have been carried out. After the large-scale transfer of over 6,000 Ukrainian fallen servicemen in June, such exchanges have continued monthly from July to November.

ALSO READ: Russia vows response to asset seizure, possible foreign troop stationing in Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Dáil Chamber delivering a special speech in a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament in Leinster House Dublin, during his visit to the Irish capital on Dec 2, 2025. (PHOTO / AFP)

Ukraine receives US draft on security guarantees

Also on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv has received a draft document from the United States on security guarantees for Ukraine, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

Ukraine will review the document, add its proposals and return it to the United States in several days, Zelensky told reporters.

He stressed that the security assurance document they were working on would ultimately go to the Ukrainian Congress, and they would need congressional support, emphasizing that effective security guarantees are necessary.

According to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Zelensky also announced that a draft peace plan being developed between Ukraine and the United States now envisages limiting Ukraine's military personnel to 800,000 service members.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (right) and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte walk past a European flag as they arrive to hold a press conference after talks at the Chancellery in Berlin on Dec 11, 2025. (PHOTO / AFP)

EU proposal on Ukrainian territorial concessions sent to US

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Thursday that European leaders had sent a proposal to US President Donald Trump concerning territorial concessions that Ukraine is prepared to make, and meetings will follow to discuss the issue.

Speaking to reporters alongside visiting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Merz said the proposal followed a telephone conversation the previous day with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Merz said they had made clear to Trump that the question of Ukrainian territorial concessions must first be answered by the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people.

READ MORE: State Department: US, Ukraine agree on security framework

Further talks with the American government were planned this weekend, and there may be a meeting in Berlin at the beginning of next week, he noted.