Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow refuses to provide evidence of Ukrainian ‘drone attack’ on Putin’s house

Russian losses in the war in Ukraine have been growing at a faster rate than at any point so far since the invasion began in February 2022, new analysis suggests.

Analysis by the BBC found that 40 per cent more obituaries of soldiers were published in Russia this year compared with 2024.

The broadcaster, along with independent outlet Mediazona, compiled a list of named individuals using official reports, newspapers and social media as well as new memorials and graves. In total, they were able to confirm the names of around 160,000 people who have been killed.

Experts told the broadcaster that the figure is likely to be far higher, with the BBC’s toll only likely to represent between 45 and 65 per cent of the overall total. This would mean that Moscow has suffered between 243,000 and 352,000 casualties since the war began.

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India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has expressed his concern about an alleged 91-drone attack by Ukraine on President Vladimir Putin’s personal residence. Ukraine has denied the claims vehemently with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling the accusations “lies”.

“Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation,” PM Modi wrote on X/Twitter on Tuesday.

“Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace. We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them.”

Russia and India have tightened their strategic allyship in recent weeks, with Putin visiting Delhi earlier this month.

The Kremlin has urged de-escalation after US President Donald Trump said he would support another massive strike on Iran.

Joined by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US leader said that Tehran could be working to restore its weapons. Iran has denied it has a nuclear weapons programme.

“I’ve been reading that they’re building up weapons and other things, and if they are, they’re not using the sites we obliterated, but possibly different sites,” Trump told reporters.

Moscow-installed authorities reopened the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater in Mariupol this week, three years after a Russian airstrike is reported to have killed hundreds.

The theater was destroyed when it was targeted by a Russian airstrike on 16 March 2022.

An Associated Press investigation later found evidence that 600 people had been killed inside and outside of the building – figures that were nearly double early government estimates.

The Kremlin says Russia will be toughening its stance on Ukraine after an alleged 91-drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai .

“This terrorist action is aimed at collapsing the negotiation process,” Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“The diplomatic consequence will be to toughen the negotiating position of the Russian Federation.”

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has called the claims “another round of lies”.

Peskov added: “We see that Zelenskiy himself is trying to deny this, and many Western media outlets, playing along with the Kyiv regime, are starting to spread the theme that this did not happen. This is a completely insane assertion.”

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybihia said that Russia had offered “no evidence” for the attack as it did not exist, on Tuesday.

New analysis has revealed the sheer scale of Russia’s losses since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Deaths of Russian military have risen exponentially with 40 per cent more obituaries of soldiers published in Russian sources compared with the previous year, according to the BBC.

The BBC confirmed the names of 160,000 people who have died fighting for Russia, but the real death toll is expected to be much higher if the confirmed names are taken as representing only 45 – 65 per cent of the complete total.

Between 243,000 and 352,000 Russians could be dead as a result of the war, according to the figures.

European leaders, including Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk, will discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine at 10am GMT on Tuesday, according to private broadcaster TVN24.

It follows weeks of discussions and negotiations to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Belarus’s ministry of defence released a new video on Tuesday of what it says is the deployment of Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile systems on its territory.

The operation would bolster Moscow’s ability to deliver missiles across Europe.

President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced the deployment of the intermediate-range ballistic earlier this month.

A post on the ministry’s telegram stated: “The system is capable of hitting targets at ranges of up to 5,000 km, can be equipped with both conventional and special warheads, and can be launched from any point along a combat patrol route.”

China’s foreign ministry, responding to Russia’s claim that Ukraine attempted to attack president Vladimir Putin’s residence, urged all parties to adhere to the principle of preventing any spillover of the battlefield and avoiding escalation.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said progress towards ending the war was being blocked by a single unresolved issue as he pushed back against Donald Trump’s suggestion that Putin had told him Russia wanted Ukraine to succeed.

In an interview with Fox News, broadcast after his meeting with the US president in Florida, the Ukrainian leader said talks were edging closer to a breakthrough but remained stalled over territory.

“I think we have a problem with one question: it’s about territories,” he said, adding that he was “thankful” to Trump for efforts to broker peace.

Zelensky outlined possible compromises under a developing 20-point peace plan, including a demilitarised buffer zone.

“I think the compromise, if we do a free economic zone that we have, and we have to move some kilometres back,” he said.

“It means that Russia has to make minor steps some kilometres back.”

He suggested any arrangement would require special rules and public consent. “This free economic zone will have specific rules. Something like this referendum is the way how to accept it or not accept it,” he said.

The interview aired after Moscow accused Ukraine of attempting to attack one of president Vladimir Putin’s residences, a claim Kyiv rejected.

It also followed Trump’s remark in Florida that Putin wanted Ukraine to succeed, a claim Zelensky appeared to contradict, saying he did not trust the Russian leader’s intentions.

“I don’t trust Putin. And he doesn’t want success for Ukraine, really, he doesn’t want — he can say it. I believe that he can say such words to President Trump. I believe in it, that he can say it, but it’s not true.”

During a press conference with Zelensky on Sunday, the US president was asked by a Reuters reporter about his discussion with Putin on the subject of “what responsibility Russia will have for any kind of reconstruction of Ukraine”.

“They’re going to be helping, Russia is going to be helping. Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,” Trump replied.

After Trump made the comments in the press conference, Zelensky appeared briefly puzzled.