Ukrainian and Russian forces exchanged drone attacks overnight, resulting in at least six deaths and dozens of injuries, according to officials from both nations. The violence marks a continuation of aerial hostilities despite ongoing diplomatic efforts brokered by the United States.
On Wednesday, Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported that at least four people were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk. Among the fatalities was a child, and 29 others were wounded. The strike caused significant collateral damage, with debris from a drone falling onto local businesses and nearly hitting a residential building, which sparked fires, said Andrei Kravchenko, the mayor of Novorossiysk. Additionally, falling debris in the nearby town of Anapa damaged three homes and a kindergarten, though no casualties were reported in that area.
Ukraine frequently targets Novorossiysk, a critical logistics hub for Russian oil and grain exports. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that nearly 600 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight.
Earlier in the day, a Russian drone strike hit the Starokozace border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova, located approximately 500 kilometers south of Kyiv. Odesa Regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed on social media that two civilians were killed in the attack. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine added that three other people were injured and that multiple fires broke out, forcing the temporary closure of the checkpoint.
Kyiv also reported an overnight drone attack, which ignited some fires but resulted in no casualties.
The renewed strikes follow a brief pause in the conflict while U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow for peace talks. On Tuesday, Russia resumed near-daily airstrikes on Kyiv, killing at least five people. Russian President Vladimir Putin also described having an “extremely frank” phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump as Washington continues to push for direct negotiations to end the war.
While Ukraine has proposed that peace talks could occur in September, Russian officials have indicated it is premature to discuss specific venues or dates. To date, diplomatic engagements between Moscow and Kyiv have produced no substantial results beyond occasional prisoner exchanges.
Rough night for civilians on both sides. Six dead includes that child in Russia and two in Ukraine. Terrible toll.
Do these U.S. brokered talks actually achieve anything, or are we just watching the same cycle repeat endlessly?
Does anyone else find it concerning that the border crossing with Moldova was targeted? This is spilling over significantly now.
Wait, they stopped for peace talks then immediately resumed? Seems like a performative pause rather than genuine intent.
A child killed in Novorossiysk is heartbreaking. The escalating drone warfare shows diplomacy is failing.