Russia, Ukraine trade blame over overnight drone strikes that kill at least six, injure 22

Russia and Ukraine on Friday accused each other of overnight strikes that killed at least six people and injured 22 others on both sides.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces shot down 179 drones overnight across the country, in annexed Crimea, and over the Azov and Black seas.

In Russia’s Bryansk region, one person was killed and two others injured following a “suicide drone” attack, regional Governor Yegor Kovalchuk said on Russian social media company Max.

Belgorod Governor Aleksandr Shuvaev said one person was killed and another injured as a result of a missile attack on the region.

He said the attack also damaged energy infrastructure, causing power and water outages in several municipalities.

“Power companies are working diligently to address the damage quickly; water and power will be restored by the end of the day,” he wrote on Max.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff claimed on Telegram that Moscow launched 105 drones and two guided missiles, with 82 drones and one missile intercepted.

In Ukraine’s Sumy region, four people were killed, and three others were injured following a Russian drone strike on an apartment building, regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov said on Telegram.

Ten people were also injured in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region in the overnight strikes, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said on Telegram, adding that the attack damaged civilian infrastructure and several vehicles.

In Ukraine's Kharkiv region, six people were injured, including three children, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said on Telegram.

Death toll rises in Kiev

Meanwhile, in Kiev, the death toll from an earlier attack rose to 30, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

“Three more bodies have been recovered,” said the agency on Facebook.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 10 people remain missing as emergency and rescue operations continue. He underlined that nearly 100 people were injured, including children.

Zelenskyy stressed the need for reliable protection of Ukraine’s skies, urging partners for support.

“Every day and every night, the Russians strike ordinary civilian infrastructure, and terror is the only argument they have left for not stopping the war,” he said.

Ukraine on Thursday claimed that Moscow launched 74 missiles and 496 drones overnight, with Kiev as the main target. It said 25 ballistic missiles and 12 attack drones struck targets at 33 locations, while falling debris was reported at 18 locations.

In response, the Russian Defence Ministry said its forces used long-range precision weapons launched from the air, sea and land, as well as drones, to strike defence industry enterprises and fuel and energy facilities in Kiev and the surrounding region.

Independent verification of the claims remains difficult due to the ongoing war.

___

Source: TRT