At least six people have lost their lives in a fresh wave of Russian drone and bomb attacks targeting several regions across eastern and southern Ukraine, according to updates released by local authorities on Friday. The latest escalation in hostilities comes as Moscow continues to defy growing international pressure, including warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently urged the Kremlin to halt its full-scale invasion or face the possibility of stiffer sanctions.
The attacks, which struck various civilian and administrative targets, underscored Russia’s ongoing strategy of aerial bombardment and ground assaults, a tactic it has intensified in recent weeks. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, known for its industrial and mining significance, three individuals were confirmed dead following overnight drone bombardments. The region’s governor, Sergiy Lysak, revealed via his official Telegram channel that the Kamyanske district was one of the hardest hit, where a drone strike ignited a blaze that destroyed parts of an administrative complex, a shop, and several private residences. Two of the victims perished at the scene, while a third, a 52-year-old man, was killed in a separate drone attack elsewhere in the region.
Further casualties were reported in the embattled eastern and southern regions of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. These territories, which remain partially occupied by Russian troops, continue to witness intense shelling and air raids. Local emergency services confirmed the deaths of three more individuals in those areas, though specific details regarding the victims and locations were not immediately disclosed.
Ukraine’s air defense systems were active overnight as Russian forces launched 35 long-range drones, a relatively modest number when compared to Moscow’s known drone capabilities, which can see hundreds deployed in a single offensive. Kyiv has accused Russia of sustaining its air campaign to weaken civilian morale and infrastructure, particularly in non-frontline zones.
Meanwhile, Moscow claimed its own territory was targeted by Ukrainian drones. Russian defense officials reported shooting down a total of 73 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, including 10 that were allegedly on course to strike the capital, Moscow. These claims, however, could not be independently verified as of the time of reporting.
The renewed attacks mark yet another grim chapter in the ongoing war, which began in February 2022 and has since drawn widespread condemnation. Despite several rounds of international sanctions, diplomatic efforts have so far failed to yield a ceasefire or peace agreement. As the conflict drags on, global powers continue to monitor developments closely, amid concerns of wider regional destabilization.
