Ukraine, Russia Exchange Deadly Drone Strikes
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- Ukraine conducted drone strikes deep inside Russia, hitting areas near Moscow, Siberia, and the Urals, causing fuel shortages and killing four people, including three in the Istra settlement.
- Russia launched retaliatory strikes on Ukraine, killing at least six, including three on a Togo-flagged civilian cargo ship unloading in a Ukrainian port and two in Zaporizhzhia.
- Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov reported that 81 drones were downed over the Moscow region, with drone debris destroying homes and injuring multiple people in Istra and other areas.
- Ukraine’s Oleksii Kuleba stated that Russia attacked a commercial vessel delivering mineral fertilizers, emphasizing the targeting of civilian infrastructure amid the ongoing war.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with leaders from France, the U.K., and Germany in Paris as part of the 'Coalition of the Willing,' aiming to pressure Russia to end the war.
Why it matters: The reciprocal strikes—on civilian ships and residential areas—mark an escalation in targeting depth and infrastructure, with Ukraine now regularly hitting strategic sites 2,700 km inside Russia. This raises the human and economic cost for both populations while diplomatic efforts stall, increasing pressure on Western allies to deliver tangible support ahead of the Paris summit.
