Moscow says 50 Ukrainian drones shot down as attacks spark fires at Russian power stations

NEW DELHI: Tensions escalated between Ukraine and Russia as Ukraine launched a series of drone strikes across Russian territory overnight, targeting energy infrastructure, according to statements from the defense ministry in Moscow.
The defense ministry reported that fifty drones were intercepted and shot down by Russian air defenses over eight regions, including areas near the Ukrainian border such as the western Belgorod region.Tragically, two casualties were reported as a result of the barrage, with a woman sustaining a broken leg and a man perishing while attempting to care for her as their home caught fire due to explosions.
Reports indicate that the drone strikes were not limited to Belgorod but also affected regions such as Bryansk, Kursk, Tula, Smolensk, Ryazan, Kaluga, and the Moscow region, causing fires and damage to energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials have traditionally refrained from commenting on attacks within Russian territory. However, it is noted that many of the drone strikes appeared to target Russia's energy infrastructure.
In response to the drone attacks, Russia reportedly launched seven missiles at Ukraine overnight. The Ukrainian air force claimed to have downed two missiles and three reconnaissance drones. Governor Oleh Kiper of Ukraine's Odesa region confirmed infrastructure damage caused by ballistic missiles but did not provide specific details.
Earlier attacks on Odesa on Friday had already caused significant damage to port infrastructure, including food export terminals, as disclosed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The escalation in violence also resulted in civilian casualties, with reports of a 50-year-old man killed in the city of Vovchansk due to Russian shelling, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov of Ukraine's Kharkiv region. Additionally, a 60-year-old woman was injured in a separate incident when shelling struck a nine-story apartment block.
The recent exchanges of attacks mark a concerning escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, raising fears of further violence and instability in the region. International observers are closely monitoring the situation as efforts to de-escalate tensions remain critical.
(With inputs from agencies)