The Kremlin has sharply condemned France’s recent test of a submarine‑launched ballistic missile off Brittany, describing the move as part of a “dead‑end” strategy that confronts Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the launch as a clear message, although he did not address Russia directly. Moscow’s statement echoes a broader warning that a defence‑based identity built on confrontation with the Russian Federation will lead to nothing good, according to Kremlin officials.
The missile test comes amid escalating tensions between Moscow and the West over the war in Ukraine and a rise in hybrid attacks on European soil. Ukrainian authorities reported that a massive Russian missile and drone strike overnight killed two people in Kyiv, with multiple explosions heard at around 3 a.m. The Ukrainian air force said it had intercepted over 80% of the 46 jet‑powered drones launched by Russia, a significant improvement from earlier weeks when interception rates hovered between 50% and 60%. Russian forces have used high‑velocity drones in continuous attacks on Kyiv and other cities, challenging Ukrainian air defences.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the latest strike as one of the most “vile” in the conflict, citing a death toll of at least 25, including five children, and 100 wounded. The heaviest casualties were in Pryluky, where a Russian missile destroyed a five‑storey residential building, killing 18 people and wounding around 55. Zelensky condemned the attack as a “birthday gift” to Vladimir Putin, noting that it was part of Russia’s broader strategy to strike painfully and demonstratively.
Other incidents illustrate the widening scope of the conflict. Danish intelligence said Russia has begun sabotage operations against companies supplying Ukraine, while Bulgaria halted a rescue operation for the crew of a drone‑damaged ship. Ukraine reportedly diverted two Russian ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv using the Lima electronic‑warfare system, and U.S. President Donald Trump has scheduled a call with Putin following a suspected plague laboratory incident in Russia.
