Three killed in Russia during Ukrainian drone strikes

Saturday 02 August 2025 - 10:00

Three people were killed overnight from Friday to Saturday in Russia as a result of Ukrainian drone strikes in the regions of Rostov, Penza, and Samara, according to local authorities. The Russian military reported intercepting a total of 112 drones launched from Ukraine during the night, marking another intense episode in the ongoing conflict.

In an unusual incident far from the frontlines, one of the victims—a senior citizen—died in the Samara region, located about 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, the man was inside a country house that caught fire after debris from a drone strike fell on the property.

In the Penza region, located between Samara and Ukraine, drones targeted an industrial facility early Saturday morning. Governor Oleg Melnichenko confirmed that a woman was killed in the attack, while two other individuals were injured but are not in critical condition.

In Rostov, a border region frequently targeted due to its proximity to Ukraine, Governor Yuri Slyusar stated that a massive drone assault had been repelled overnight, with several unmanned aerial vehicles shot down over various towns. However, a fire broke out at an industrial site in the village of Uglerodovsky, resulting in the death of a security guard.

According to AFP analysis, July saw the highest number of drones launched by Russia against Ukraine since the beginning of the war—over 6,297 in total. Many of these are decoy drones, designed primarily to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems.

Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions remain high. The Kremlin continues to reject the idea of a long-term ceasefire, viewing it as a strategic advantage for Kyiv. Ukrainian leaders, on the other hand, are calling on European allies for advanced air defense systems, including modern U.S.-made Patriot batteries.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of two nuclear submarines in response to inflammatory remarks made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, further escalating geopolitical tensions.