At least 16 people were killed in Ukrainian and Russian strikes on Saturday, marking a deadly fifth summer of war as both sides intensify attacks with diplomacy at a deadlock. The strikes occurred in Russian-occupied Ukraine, north-eastern Ukraine, and Russian border villages. The UN has warned of increased civilian deaths in the nearly 4.5-year conflict.
Escalating Strikes
Ukrainian drones targeted a Siberian oil refinery and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, escalating strikes deep inside Russia. Ukraine claims these strikes aim to weaken Russia's war effort and force the Kremlin to negotiate. Russia reported a Ukrainian strike on an Azov Sea village killed eight people, including two children.
Retaliatory Actions
Kyiv said a Russian drone strike on its private courier service Nova Poshta in the north-eastern city of Sumy killed three drivers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as a 'double-tap' drone strike. Two more people were killed in southern Ukraine, and Moscow reported two villagers killed in border areas and one more in the occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region.
Impact on Russia
Far from the battlefield, Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Siberia's Tyumen region, more than 1,000 miles east of Moscow, causing a fire. Moscow said Ukraine had launched more than 300 drones into Russian territory. Zelensky announced Kyiv had also struck a factory in Kirov, hundreds of kilometres east of Moscow, for the second day in a row.
Human Toll
Kirov Governor Alexander Sokolov declared three days of mourning in the region after Friday's strike, which killed five people. Further west in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, Russian online retail giant Wildberries evacuated its staff after a drone attack. Ukraine says its retaliatory strikes are fair retribution for Russia's daily barrages on Ukrainian cities.
