Hundreds of drones targeted Moscow on Sunday as Russia launched missile strikes that killed three people and wounded more than a dozen in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, officials on the two sides said. Amid the intense hostilities, three people were also killed in the Russian city of Rostov, while a Spanish NATO fighter jet shot down a drone that crossed into Romanian territory -- the second time in two days that the war has spilled over into eastern Europe.
Drone Assault on Moscow
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported a sustained overnight drone assault on the capital, issuing a string of updates over several hours. Air defences intercepted more than 600 drones headed towards Moscow, with around 200 which were shot down in the region, according to his statements on the state-backed MAX platform. Moscow regional governor Andrey Vorobyov described the assault as 'one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory', adding that six people were wounded in the region.
Missile Strikes in Ukraine
Russia's missile strikes killed two people in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region with another fatality in Kryvyi Rig, President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown. More than 20 people were wounded across Kyiv, Brovary, Kryvyi Rig, Odesa, and Dnipetrovsk. Russian forces hit two industrial sites in Kryvyi Rig, local defence council head Oleksandr Vilkul said on Telegram. In Kyiv, authorities issued an air raid alert just before 2:00 am (2300 GMT) and several explosions were heard shortly after.
Spillover into Neighboring Countries
Countries bordering the conflict have faced increasing spillovers from the drone war between Ukraine and Russia. Romania's defence ministry said that a Spanish F-18 fighter jet shot down a drone that breached its airspace near the border with Ukraine and Moldova. Debris fell in an unpopulated area of the Galati region, near the Ukrainian border, it added, though it was not known where the drone came from. In July, Romania expelled a Russian embassy employee in what it called 'a firm response' to drones repeatedly breaching the country's airspace. Romania shot down three drones on three consecutive days before the expulsion.
Impact on Bangladesh
The escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine has global implications, including for Bangladesh. The war has led to increased global food and energy prices, affecting Bangladesh's economy. Additionally, the conflict has highlighted the need for stronger international cooperation to address security threats and humanitarian crises. Bangladesh, as a member of the United Nations, continues to advocate for peace and stability in the region.
