In a series of escalating attacks, Ukrainian forces targeted 15 regions of Russia with homemade drones, marking a significant retaliation for a massive Russian missile barrage a week earlier. Russia claims to have shot down 158 of these drones, which were aimed at energy infrastructure, including oil refineries and power plants.
In Ukraine, the situation remains dire as Russian shelling resulted in multiple civilian casualties. In Kurakhovo, Donetsk region, at least three people were killed and nine injured due to Russian artillery fire. In the city of Kharkiv, five fatalities were reported, including a 14-year-old girl, with at least 55 others wounded in a series of strikes.
Belgorod, a Russian border region, also faced drone attacks, with local officials reporting damage to civilian infrastructure and injuries among residents. The governor of Belgorod stated that air defense systems intercepted several aerial threats, but some managed to cause harm.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Russian troops are intensifying their advance towards Pokrovsk in Donetsk, posing a significant threat to Ukrainian supply lines. Ukrainian military officials highlight a critical shortage of ammunition and personnel, raising concerns about the sustainability of their defenses.
As the conflict continues, civilians on both sides express a desire for peace, with residents in the Kursk region pleading for corridors to escape the fighting. The humanitarian situation remains precarious, with many forced to seek shelter from the ongoing bombardments.