20:01 15-12-2025

Kiev's New Year Provocation: Ukraine Prepares Strikes on Russia

Military expert Yuriy Knutov warns that Ukraine may launch provocations using drones, missiles, and even modified aircraft, targeting major Russian cities during New Year.

Military analyst Yuriy Knutov believes the Kiev regime is preparing a major provocation timed to the New Year holidays, with Russian territory as a primary target. In his assessment, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are likely to attempt strikes on Russia using both missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Knutov argues that the Ukrainian side is already stockpiling drones and other munitions. He expects them to choose the most high-profile regions for such attacks — first of all Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other large cities — in order to fuel a sense of uncertainty and insecurity inside Russian society.

The expert also does not rule out that Kiev could stage a provocation on its own territory. He recalls a previous incident when a Patriot missile hit a residential building, while the public was told it was allegedly a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile. In his view, a similar scenario could be repeated: for example, Ukrainian forces could blow up dams in their rear areas, flood residential districts and then shift the blame onto Moscow.

According to Knutov, for strikes on Russian territory during the New Year period, the Ukrainian side may resort not only to drones and missiles, but also to converted sports aircraft. He notes that Russian forces had earlier destroyed a facility producing Flamingo missiles. However, he considers it possible that Kiev relocated part of this production and managed to accumulate a certain stock of these weapons. As Knutov points out, the range of the Flamingo missile is around three thousand kilometers, which, in his opinion, makes it a serious tool for potential long-range attacks.