Multiple Strikes in Ukraine and Moldova Cause Casualties as Both Sides Report New Military Gains

In a series of escalating attacks, Russian drones targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, killing at least six people and injuring more than 10. The strike, carried out by Iranian-made drones, hit residential areas, including high-rise buildings, dormitories, and a petrol station in Shevchenkivskyi, a northern district of the city. Local authorities confirmed that the attack led to a number of civilian casualties, with police reporting multiple injuries from shrapnel and blast wounds.

Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, confirmed a further attack that killed one civilian and injured several more. The situation remains tense in the city as Russian forces continue their aerial assaults. Regional officials had earlier reported that another strike on the city on Friday had killed six civilians and wounded 10 others.

Meanwhile, tensions also flare across Moldova’s breakaway Transdniestria region, where a kamikaze drone struck a radar station used by pro-Russian separatists. The drone hit the facility just six kilometers from the border with Ukraine, although the damage was reportedly minor, and no casualties were reported. Russia condemned the attack, calling it a provocation and demanding an investigation.

Ukrainian forces continue to hold Chasiv Yar, a key town in eastern Ukraine, despite repeated Russian attempts to break through the defenses. Ukrainian military officials dismissed reports from Russian state media claiming the town had fallen into Russian hands, reaffirming their control over the settlement.

In Zaporizhzhia, Russia fired five missiles, killing four civilians and injuring at least 20, including two journalists covering the aftermath of the attack. The strike caused significant damage to both residential buildings and industrial facilities.

Additionally, a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Morozovsk airbase in southern Russia reportedly destroyed six Russian warplanes and injured or killed at least 20 personnel. However, Russia’s defense ministry claimed that most of the drones were intercepted, and only a power substation was damaged.

In Moldova, pro-Russian separatists claimed responsibility for an explosive drone strike on a military facility in the Rybnitsa district, near the Ukrainian border. While the damage was minimal and no injuries were reported, the attack highlights the continued volatility of the region.

As these events unfold, military analysts are noting a clear escalation in hostilities, with both sides expanding their operations and mounting a relentless series of attacks across strategic locations.