MOSCOW, Russia: A Ukrainian drone struck a family driving near the border in Russia’s Belgorod region on Friday, killing a mother and her 4-year-old son, the region’s governor said.
The attack came as Ukraine launched a wave of drones at the annexed Crimean peninsula and Russia’s southern regions overnight, in one of its largest aerial offensives in weeks, according to AFP.
Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that in the village of Oktyabrsky, a kamikaze drone targeted a car carrying a driver and three passengers: a mother, father and a child.
He added that as a result of the explosion, the woman died on the spot from her injuries. The child was in critical condition. Doctors did everything possible to save him, but the 4-year-old died of his wounds in hospital.
The governor said that the the father was wounded but was in shock and refused medical help, while the driver of the car was treated for shrapnel injuries to his hands.
Ukraine’s Another Drone Strike
Another drone strike caused a fire at a gas station in Bessonovka village, but the blaze was quickly put out, according to the governor.
Moscow said it had intercepted or destroyed over 100 Ukrainian drones in the south of the country and over annexed Crimea and the Black Sea overnight.
51 drones were destroyed over Crimea, 44 over the Krasnodar region, 6 over the Belgorod region, 6 over the Black Sea and 1 over the Kursk region, its defence ministry said.
Kyiv did not immediately comment but denies targeting civilians.
The drone wave comes as Russian troops advance along the front line, making their biggest territorial gains in eighteen months as Ukraine struggles with ammunition and manpower shortages.
Ukraine has evacuated about 9,000 civilians from its north east since Russian troops stormed across the border last week, advancing towards Vovchansk and nearby villages.
