Russian territory witnessed a significant military escalation in recent hours, as Ukrainian forces launched a series of drone attacks targeting the capital Moscow and regions in the south.
The attacks resulted in civilian casualties and severe material damage to infrastructure and residential buildings, while Moscow responded by targeting the port of Chornomorsk — reflecting a shift in the conflict to a new phase of intensive deep-strike operations.
The escalation coincides with the 'coalition of the willing' meeting in Paris, aimed at supporting Ukraine. 4 people were killed and 5 others wounded in drone attacks on the Moscow region, while a similar attack sparked a fire in an industrial zone in Stavropol province, in a further escalation of Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.
The attacks come amid a surge in mutual strikes between Russia and Ukraine, with Kyiv having recently intensified its use of drones to target Russian territory, while Moscow continues to carry out daily raids on Ukrainian soil.
Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that 4 people were killed and 3 others injured when a drone crashed in the town of Pionersky in the city of Istra.
Vorobyov added that 2 other people were injured after a drone struck a residential building in the city of Solnechnogorsk.
He noted that Russian air defences shot down 81 drones over the Moscow region overnight.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on Telegram that a total of 11 drones heading toward the capital had been downed.
In southwestern Russia, Stavropol province governor Vladimir Vladimirov announced that a drone attack had sparked a fire in the industrial zone of the village of Vyazniki in the Shpakovsky district.
Vladimirov wrote on Telegram: