Ukrainian Drone Attack Devastates Southern Russia: Three Dead, 16 Injured in Extensive Assault
Southern Russia experienced a significant and prolonged Ukrainian drone assault overnight, resulting in three fatalities and at least 16 injuries. The coordinated attacks targeted key cities including Novorossiysk, Rostov-on-Don, and Krasnodar, causing substantial damage to residential areas and critical infrastructure.
Scale of the Attack and Interceptions
Russian defense officials reported an unprecedented scale to the attack, claiming 249 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across various Russian regions. Of these, 116 were downed over the Black Sea, and a further 92 were neutralized over the southern territories of Krasnodar and Rostov, indicating a widespread and intense operation.
Damage and Casualties in Rostov-on-Don
In Rostov-on-Don, Governor Yuri Slyusar detailed the immediate aftermath, reporting significant destruction. The damage included a paint shop, a warehouse, four apartment buildings, and 12 individual houses. This city alone accounted for the confirmed three deaths directly resulting from the assault, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.
Strikes on Novorossiysk and Krasnodar Region
Unverified footage circulated on Telegram allegedly captured a drone impacting a large residential block in Novorossiysk, a crucial Black Sea port city known for its extensive oil facilities. The video depicted a fiery explosion upon impact, underscoring the severity of the strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev described the event as "one of the longest major attacks by the Kyiv regime" on his region. He confirmed damage to an apartment building in Tuapse, a town located near an oil export terminal, and reported that seven apartment buildings were struck in Novorossiysk, illustrating the widespread impact.
Reciprocal Strikes and Escalation
These drone attacks on southern Russia follow earlier reports of Russian forces launching their own assaults on Kyiv. A senior Ukrainian official stated that those strikes on Tuesday morning resulted in fires in at least two residential buildings and one fatality in the Ukrainian capital. The escalating cross-border hostilities continue to impact civilian populations and critical infrastructure in both nations, intensifying the broader conflict.
