MOSCOW DAILY - 25 MARCH 2026
Russian Air Defense Downs 389 Ukrainian UAVs in Largest Single-Night Drone Attack of the War — Targeting Leningrad, Bryansk, Belgorod Regions as Ust-Luga Baltic Oil Terminal Fire Continues
Russian air defenses down 389 Ukrainian UAVs in single night, largest recorded drone attack
Russian MoD reports intercepting 389 Ukrainian UAVs overnight March 24-25, targeting multiple regions including Leningrad, Bryansk, Belgorod. Fire at Ust-Luga port ongoing; residential damage in Kronstadt.
Russia and Vietnam sign Russia-Vietnam strategic agreements during PM visit to Moscow
Russian PM Mishustin held talks March 25 with Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh in Moscow. Bilateral trade grew 6% in 2025; cooperation agreements span energy, nuclear, and transport sectors.
Belarusian President Lukashenko arrives in North Korea for first-ever state visit
Lukashenko arrived March 25 in Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Un on bilateral ties and identifying promising projects. Belarus and DPRK to sign friendship treaty during visit.
Hungary halts gas supplies to Ukraine until Druzhba oil pipeline transit restored
Hungarian PM Orban announced March 25 suspension of gas deliveries to Ukraine until transit via Druzhba oil pipeline resumes. Orban frames move as reciprocal pressure on Kyiv.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: Russia's Ministry of Defense reported downing 389 Ukrainian UAVs overnight 24-25 March in the largest single-night drone attack documented in Moscow cables — targeting Leningrad Oblast (including the strategic Ust-Luga oil terminal, now burning for a second day), Bryansk, Belgorod, and multiple heartland regions as Ukrainian forces sustained deep-strike tempo following the 948-drone barrage documented in yesterday's cable. Belarusian President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO arrived in Pyongyang on 25 March for talks with DPRK leadership on bilateral ties and signing of a Belarus-DPRK friendship treaty per TASS reporting — fulfilling the 25-26 March official visit first reported in 24 March cable and marking the first visit to North Korea by a Belarusian head of state as Russia-Belarus-DPRK axis coordination deepens. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN on 25 March announced suspension of gas deliveries to Ukraine until transit via the Druzhba oil pipeline resumes per RT and Rossiyskaya Gazeta reporting — framing the move as reciprocal pressure on Kyiv and opening a new energy pressure front as Russia and Ukraine exchange infrastructure strikes. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH held talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail MISHUSTIN in Moscow on 25 March, signing cooperation agreements spanning energy, nuclear power, and transport sectors as bilateral trade grew 6 percent in 2025 per Government.ru press release. Russia launched 147 additional strike drones against Ukraine overnight 24-25 March per Ukrainian Air Force reporting to Ukrinform, with Ukrainian air defenses downing 121 UAVs as strikes killed civilians across multiple regions and damaged energy infrastructure — representing sustained Russian strike tempo following the record 948-drone assault documented yesterday. END SUMMARY.
