At least 16 people have been killed in a fresh wave of Russian and Ukrainian attacks, marking another deadly chapter in the nearly 4½-year war as both sides escalate military operations while diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
The latest violence comes amid warnings from the United Nations that civilian casualties have risen sharply in recent months, with both Russia and Ukraine stepping up aerial attacks.
According to Russian-installed authorities in occupied southern Ukraine, a Ukrainian strike on a village along the Sea of Azov killed eight people, including two children.
The Moscow-appointed head of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said the attack targeted tourist camps in the seaside village of Kyrylivka, injuring 14 others.
Kyrylivka was captured by Russian forces during the early days of the invasion. Ukrainian authorities had not commented on the incident at the time of reporting.
Ukraine has increased military operations around the Sea of Azov in recent weeks, targeting Russian naval assets and military infrastructure in the area.
On the Ukrainian side, officials said a Russian drone strike on a Nova Poshta courier facility in the northeastern city of Sumy killed three delivery drivers.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as a “double-tap” drone strike, a tactic in which a second strike follows shortly after the first, often endangering rescue workers and civilians.
Ukrainian authorities also reported that two more people were killed in southern parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Russian officials said two villagers were killed in border regions, while another civilian died in the Russian-controlled section of Kherson Region.
Away from the front lines, Ukraine launched one of its deepest drone attacks inside Russian territory, targeting an oil refinery in the Tyumen Region of Siberia, located more than 1,000 miles east of Moscow.
Regional Governor Alexander Moor confirmed that a Ukrainian drone crashed within the refinery complex, sparking a fire.
Moscow also claimed Ukraine launched more than 300 drones into Russian territory, including attacks on regions located far from the border.
President Zelensky further announced that Ukrainian forces had struck a factory in Kirov for the second consecutive day, describing it as a facility producing components used in Russian weapons.
“Once again, a plant in Kirov was struck – the one supplying components for the weapons Russia uses to attack our people,” Zelensky said.
Earlier, Kirov Governor Alexander Sokolov declared three days of mourning following Friday’s attack on the region.
He clarified that the death toll from that strike stood at five, correcting an earlier report of six fatalities after one man believed dead was later found alive.
Sokolov praised the victims as “heroes of the labour front” and said the attack would only strengthen national unity.
“It will only unite us against the enemy,” he said, adding that Russia was fighting “the collective West.”
In another incident, Ukraine targeted facilities belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries in the Ural city of Yekaterinburg.
The company said it evacuated staff from one of its logistics centres as a precaution and temporarily suspended operations.
Wildberries stated that although the facility was not damaged, the evacuation was carried out promptly to ensure employee safety.
Governor Denis Pasler confirmed that Yekaterinburg had been attacked by Ukrainian drones, adding that there were no casualties, although a fire broke out in a nearby parking area.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not publicly comment on Saturday’s attacks.
Ukraine has consistently maintained that its long-range strikes inside Russia are a response to Moscow’s continued bombardment of Ukrainian cities, arguing that they are intended to weaken Russia’s military capabilities and pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.
However, peace talks led by the United States remain at an impasse, with Washington increasingly focused on developments in the Middle East while Russia continues its military campaign in eastern Ukraine.
