In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine executed a substantial wave of drone attacks on Russian territory and annexed Crimea overnight.
The offensive resulted in the deaths of at least two people and ignited a fire at an oil refinery, Russian officials reported on Friday.
This marks Kyiv’s largest aerial assault in recent weeks and coincides with Russian advancements along the northeastern Ukrainian front line. Russian forces have been capitalizing on Ukrainian manpower shortages and delays in U.S. military aid shipments to gain ground.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that over 100 Ukrainian air and seaborne drones were intercepted or destroyed in southern Russia, annexed Crimea, and the Black Sea.
According to the Ministry, 51 unmanned aerial vehicles were downed over Crimea, 44 over the Krasnodar region, six over the Belgorod region, and one over the Kursk region. Additionally, the Russian navy reportedly destroyed six seaborne drones.
Tragically, one drone struck a family car in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border, killing a mother and her four-year-old son.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the region’s governor, stated, “The child was in critical condition. Doctors did everything they could to save him. With great regret, the four-year-old died at the hospital.”
The father sustained injuries and remains in shock, while the car’s driver received treatment for shrapnel wounds.
Another drone attack caused a fire at a gas station in the village of Bessonovka, which was quickly extinguished, as reported by Gladkov.
In the coastal town of Tuapse in the Krasnodar region, two Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery, triggering a large blaze but causing no casualties, according to local authorities.
Sevastopol, a key port city in annexed Crimea, experienced a partial blackout after debris from downed drones damaged an electrical substation.
The Russian-installed governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, warned of continuing isolated blackouts and announced the cancellation of school classes during the ongoing restoration work.
The drone strikes come as Russian forces intensify their offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region.
Following a renewed cross-border attack last week, Russian troops have advanced towards Vovchansk and surrounding villages. In response, Ukraine has evacuated nearly 9,000 civilians from the border area.
The attacks underscore the escalating tensions and the high stakes in the conflict, which has seen both sides suffer significant casualties and destruction.
Ukraine’s drone offensive represents a bold attempt to push back against Russian advances and disrupt logistical and military operations within Russian-controlled territories.
The international community remains watchful, with concerns over the conflict’s potential to destabilize the broader region and draw in additional external powers.
The situation on the ground continues to evolve rapidly, with both sides preparing for further confrontations.
As the conflict grinds on, the humanitarian toll mounts, and the strategic landscape shifts, the prospect of a negotiated settlement remains elusive. Both Kyiv and Moscow appear entrenched in their positions, with military operations intensifying and civilian populations bearing the brunt of the violence.