Russia and Ukraine exchange heavy strikes as NATO drills near Kaliningrad

Russia executed overnight ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv, resulting in at least two deaths and six injuries, following an earlier attack on a British American Tobacco facility in northern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces launched reciprocal drone operations targeting industrial sites in Russia's Saratov and Samara regions. Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishev stated that air defenses shot down dozens of drones, though a fire erupted at the Kuibyshev oil refinery.

Simultaneously, NATO conducted US-led military exercises near Russia's Kaliningrad enclave. The maneuvers involved Norwegian and American aircraft, AWACS surveillance planes, and Polish ground units. Responding to inquiries about the deployment, NATO reiterated that it remains a defensive alliance committed to continuously improving operational readiness.

Sources: Investor.bg, Mediapool, Nova TV