Zelenskyy says Russia is rerouting air defenses to protect Moscow and other key sites after drone strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on June 25 that Russia is shifting its air-defense deployments to better protect Moscow and other priority sites after drone strikes, according to PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Zelenskyy framed the adjustment as a defensive response to the pattern of attacks, indicating that Moscow’s protection measures are being reworked in the wake of the strikes rather than staying fixed.

The comments come amid continued aerial pressure in the war, as both sides have described changes in tactics and countermeasures over the course of the conflict. In Zelenskyy’s account, the Russian decision to move or reorganize air defenses is meant to reduce vulnerability of major targets, including Moscow, and to cover additional key locations.

In the same reporting, President Donald Trump praised Zelenskyy, calling him “courageous.” PBS NewsHour said Kyiv is hoping for continued support from G7 leaders, linking the Ukrainian expectation of sustained assistance to the broader security situation and the ongoing impact of drone strikes.

The exchange highlights the interaction between battlefield developments and diplomatic coordination among major economies. Kyiv’s stated focus on continued G7 support suggests Ukraine is seeking uninterrupted security and political backing as Russia alters how it protects high-value areas.

While Zelenskyy’s statement describes an operational shift, the reported details did not specify which Russian air-defense systems are being redeployed, which exact sites are included beyond Moscow and “other key” locations, or how quickly the changes will take effect. Without additional specifics in the report, those elements remain unconfirmed in the public record cited by PBS NewsHour.

The reported timeline also places the statements in close proximity to renewed discussion among U.S. and allied leaders about Ukraine’s defensive needs. Trump’s public praise of Zelenskyy, paired with Kyiv’s emphasis on G7 backing, underscores the role of international support in shaping Ukraine’s ability to sustain security measures during evolving conditions.

The next steps depend largely on whether G7 governments maintain or expand current assistance and whether their public actions align with the operational picture Zelenskyy described, including how Russian air-defense redeployments affect the tempo and reach of drone-related attacks.

For now, the key development in the reporting is Zelenskyy’s assertion that Russia is changing its air-defense posture to cover Moscow and other strategic areas after drone strikes, alongside Trump’s remarks and Kyiv’s continued push for allied support.