Ukrainian drones kill two in Rostov-on-Don, injure 12 in Belgorod; Russian strikes hit Zaporizhzhia and Sumy

Overnight drone strikes on Russian border cities

Ukrainian forces launched a series of drone attacks on the southwestern Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and Belgorod during the night of Sunday to Monday. In Rostov-on-Don, a key export hub on the Sea of Azov, debris from unmanned aerial vehicles struck a residential building, killing a married couple and wounding five others, two of whom were listed in critical condition. Regional governor Yuri Slyusar relayed the information via Telegram, adding that drone fragments sparked fires in warehouses and shattered windows in multiple apartment blocks. The mayor of Rostov-on-Don, Alexandr Skryabin, confirmed the damage to the apartment building. Russian state news agency Tass, citing the governor, reported that a teenager was among the seriously injured. In Belgorod, located close to the Ukrainian border, at least 12 people were injured, including two children. Local authorities said an apartment building caught fire and more than 15 vehicles were destroyed in the attack. The drone strikes on Russian territory came hours after Russian forces bombed Sumy and Zaporizhzhia.

Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities

On the other side of the front line, Russian forces struck several Ukrainian cities. In Zaporizhzhia, a guided aerial bomb and a drone attack killed one person and wounded two, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. However, a separate report from News 24/7 cited an official saying two men were killed and 13 others injured in the same city. Zaporizhzhia has been subjected to almost daily bombardment in recent months. In Sumy, Russian military aircraft dropped bombs late Sunday evening, injuring five people, governor Oleh Khryhorov said. Two more civilians were killed in Chernihiv on Sunday, Ukrainian authorities reported, as Russia's Defense Ministry announced a broader operation targeting Ukrainian ports and shipping.

Sinking of the Golden Leo off Odesa

Late Sunday, Ukrainian port authorities said the bulk carrier Golden Leo, sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau, sank near the port of Odesa. The vessel had been hit in an attack the previous week. Nine crew members died and eight were rescued. The sinking adds to a series of maritime incidents in the Black Sea since the invasion.

Russian claims of strikes on port infrastructure

Russia's Defense Ministry, in a series of Telegram posts, stated that its forces struck the container terminal at Chornomorsk, near Odesa, alleging the facility was used to handle military cargo. A ship designed to transport military supplies was hit south of Odesa, the ministry said. Two other bulk carriers were also struck, according to a subsequent post, though no details on timing or location were provided.

Unverified claims and denials

Both Russia and Ukraine maintain that they do not target civilians in the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The casualty figures reported by local officials could not be independently verified, Reuters noted. Diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting have so far failed to produce a breakthrough, and cross-border strikes continue to claim lives on both sides. The overnight exchanges continued the pattern of long-range strikes that have marked the conflict since 2022.