MOSCOW: At least four people were killed in the latest wave of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday, as both sides continued to exchange strikes targeting border regions and strategic infrastructure.
Regional authorities in Russia’s Belgorod border area reported that three civilians lost their lives following a Ukrainian drone attack.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the strikes hit civilian locations, including a vehicle, resulting in the deaths of two men and one woman. Three other individuals were injured in the incident.
The attack forms part of a broader pattern of cross-border strikes that have intensified as the conflict continues, according to AFP.
Kyiv has repeatedly stated that its drone operations are primarily aimed at Russian energy facilities, seeking to undermine Moscow’s capacity to sustain its military campaign.
Meanwhile, in central Ukraine, Russian forces carried out a separate strike that killed a 40-year-old man in the city of Kryvyi Rig. According to regional officials in Dnipropetrovsk, at least five others were wounded in the attack, which targeted urban areas.
In southern Russia, a major oil facility in the coastal town of Tuapse was set ablaze following another reported Ukrainian drone strike. The incident prompted local authorities to declare a state of emergency as dense black smoke spread across the area.
The Tuapse oil terminal, located along the Black Sea coast, has come under repeated attack in recent weeks. A similar strike last week triggered a prolonged fire that burned for several days. Residents described an unusual phenomenon during the blaze, with oily residue reportedly falling from the sky, leaving dark stains on streets, vehicles and even animals.
Officials urged residents in the affected area to remain indoors, limit outdoor exposure and keep windows shut due to hazardous air conditions caused by the smoke and airborne pollutants.
Since launching its full-scale offensive in February 2022, Russia has carried out sustained bombardments across Ukraine, often targeting energy infrastructure and urban centres. In response, Ukraine has expanded its use of long-range drones to strike strategic assets within Russian territory.
The latest incidents underscore the continuing intensity of the conflict, with civilians on both sides increasingly bearing the brunt of the violence as attacks extend beyond front-line positions.
