Ukraine and Russia exchange long-range strikes as civilian casualties rise

Ukrainian forces have conducted long-range drone strikes targeting Russian oil and export facilities in the Rostov, Yaroslavl, and Udmurtia regions, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Concurrently, Russian officials stated that air defense systems intercepted 12 Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow, causing temporary flight disruptions at local airports.

At the same time, Russian shelling and drone attacks continued across Ukraine. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, over 50 strikes resulted in three deaths and six injuries. A separate drone strike on a commercial venue in Zaporizhzhia injured four people, including two children.

Briefing the UN Security Council, UN official Kayoko Gotoh highlighted a sharp increase in civilian casualties during July, citing at least 56 deaths and 232 injuries in Kyiv alone due to persistent strikes on residential areas and infrastructure.

Sources: Investor.bg, Ukrinform