BREAKING: Ukrainian drone strikes have claimed the lives of **three individuals** in Russia, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict. Russian officials report that these drone attacks targeted critical oil refineries and military airfields within Russian territory, intensifying the retaliatory exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow.
The **Russian Defence Ministry** confirmed that air defenses intercepted or destroyed **112 drones** across eight regions, including the Russian-occupied **Crimean Peninsula**. In a strike on the **Rostov region**, near the Ukrainian border, **acting governor Yuri Slyusar** stated that one person was killed. Further inland, **Penza region governor Oleg Melnichenko** reported that a drone strike resulted in one casualty and two injuries.
In the **Samara region**, debris from a downed drone ignited a fire, leading to the death of an elderly resident, as reported by **regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev**. Multiple regions reported damage to industrial facilities, although specific targets were not disclosed by Russian officials. However, Ukrainian authorities later claimed responsibility for strikes on key energy and defense sector sites late on Friday.
Ukraine’s **General Staff** stated that they successfully hit the **Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk oil refineries**, a fuel storage facility in **Voronezh**, and a defense-linked electronics manufacturer in **Penza**. Additionally, the **Ukrainian Security Service (SBU)** confirmed that drones targeted the **Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield**, known for launching long-range drone assaults on Ukraine.
On the Ukrainian side, **11 individuals** were reported injured following a drone strike in the **Kharkiv region**, according to Governor **Oleh Syniehubov**. These reciprocal drone attacks come on the heels of a tragic day in Kyiv, where a Russian assault claimed **31 lives**, including five children, and left over **150 injured**.
The ongoing conflict has drawn international attention, particularly after **US President Donald Trump** set a new deadline of **August 8** for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. In a statement, Trump revealed that special envoy **Steve Witkoff** will travel to Russia to advocate for a ceasefire, warning of potential new economic sanctions if progress is not achieved.
In a separate incident, public unrest erupted in the city of **Vinnytsia** as protesters demanded the release of military conscripts detained by enlistment offices. Tensions flared when a group attempted to breach a stadium where conscripts were held for medical evaluations. The regional military recruitment center described the civilians’ behavior as aggressive, reflecting growing frustration over Ukraine’s mobilization efforts amid the ongoing war, which has now entered its fourth year.
As the situation evolves, both sides remain locked in a cycle of retaliatory strikes, with Russia controlling nearly **20%** of Ukraine’s territory in the east and south. The international community watches closely as casualties mount and calls for peace intensify.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
