More than 200 drones and 30 missiles were launched overnight as both sides claim territorial shifts and ceasefire negotiations falter in Istanbul.
Deadly drone and missile attacks intensified across Ukraine and Russia overnight, killing at least five people and injuring several others, as both sides continue to exchange fire and blame amid ongoing military operations and stalled diplomatic efforts.
Ukrainian authorities reported that over 200 drones and nearly 30 missiles were launched by Russia, primarily targeting the Dnipropetrovsk region. Three civilians were killed, with a residential building, industrial zones, and a shopping centre in the city of Dnipro struck. Six more people were injured in the attack, regional officials confirmed.
Across the border, Russia’s Rostov region experienced a deadly drone strike reportedly carried out by Ukrainian forces. The acting governor confirmed two deaths after a car caught fire from falling drone debris. Russian authorities have increasingly accused Ukraine of stepping up long-range attacks inside Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed territorial gains, announcing that its forces had captured Zelenyi Hai in Donetsk and Maliivka in Dnipropetrovsk. These claims have yet to be independently verified.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukrainian troops are “gradually pushing Russian forces out” of the Sumy region, a key front line in northeastern Ukraine. He confirmed the liberation of Kindrativka, a village previously under Russian control, and emphasized that Ukraine continues to repel Russian advances along the border.
Zelensky also said that there were “51 intense combat engagements” in the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk in the last 24 hours, with Ukrainian forces maintaining defensive positions despite heavy fighting.
Speaking via social media, Zelensky justified the increased use of long-range drones as retaliation against escalating Russian aggression:
“Russian military sites and airports must see that Russia’s own war is now hitting them back with real consequences.”
The surge in attacks comes just days after the third round of ceasefire talks in Istanbul failed to yield progress. The Ukrainian and Russian delegations accused each other of rejecting proposed compromises, continuing a pattern from the earlier rounds in May and June, all held at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has pushed for a ceasefire by August 8th, a deadline he reaffirmed during his recent UK visit.
Despite the diplomatic stalemate, both Kyiv and Moscow appear determined to reinforce their battlefield positions while leveraging drones as strategic and symbolic tools in the modern theatre of war.