Ukrainian drones struck 11 regions across Russia overnight, damaging homes, disrupting airports, and injuring civilians, Russian officials said Thursday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 122 drones across the country and in occupied Crimea. The largest numbers were shot down over the Bryansk (43) and Kursk (38) regions.
In the city of Voronezh, drone fragments hit a residential building, injuring three children, according to regional governor Alexander Gusev. The boys, born in 2009 and 2013, suffered head wounds and were hospitalized. A girl, also born in 2009, had cuts to her arms and legs and was treated at the scene.
At least four apartments were damaged in the strike – one had its window frame blown out and a wall destroyed, while another had broken windows.
In the Belgorod region, a drone dropped an explosive on a private home in the village of Smorodino, killing a woman, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defenses downed three drones headed toward the capital. No damage or injuries were reported.
Vnukovo Airport temporarily restricted takeoffs and landings for about an hour, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency said. Similar restrictions were also reported at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport.
The attack follows Ukraine’s numerous public calls for a ceasefire, a proposal backed by US President Donald Trump. The Kremlin has so far rejected the offer, insisting on what it calls “new territorial realities.”
Instead, Russia has been escalating its aerial campaign against Ukraine. Over the past two months, Moscow has been launching over 500 drones at Ukraine almost daily, often in near-nightly waves. On July 9, Ukraine reported a record assault, with 741 aerial targets launched in a single night.