The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated, with both countries reporting casualties. Over the last 24 hours, at least 16 people have been killed. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes had killed at least six people in northeastern Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and the Dnipropetrovsk region. A 17-year-old girl was among the victims in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Moscow also reported casualties from Ukrainian strikes. Four people were killed in Russia's Krasnodar and Belgorod regions. Vladimir Saldo, a Moscow-appointed official in the Kherson region, said a Ukrainian drone had hit a cafe in the village of Askaniya-Nova, near Crimea, on Friday evening. Rescuers found the bodies of two young girls, born in 2004 and 2006, under the rubble.
The conflict has intensified, with both sides stepping up attacks. The deadliest summer since 2022 has led to increased violence, and US-led talks to end the fighting have not resulted in a breakthrough. The Kremlin has stated its intention to seize the rest of east Ukraine. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was escalating every single day.
The situation on the ground is dire, with residents of Kyiv's Solomianskyi district cleaning up their building after a Russian drone strike. Oleksandr Gorlachov, 43, described the moment he was woken up by a video call from his elderly parents, who were in tears as their building was on fire. His mother, a seamstress, lost her sewing machine in the attack.
Despite the mounting Russian attacks on Kyiv, Gorlachov said he was not going anywhere. However, fellow resident Anastasiia Grygorovych had already fled her hometown of Gorlivka, now occupied by Russia, and was considering leaving Ukraine altogether. Russia's invasion has forced millions to flee their homes.
Ukraine has also struck back at Russia with retaliatory strikes. Zelensky said Kyiv hit an oil refinery in the southern Russian Krasnodar region and a plant supplying the occupiers in the neighboring Rostov region. The Ukrainian leader called on allies to adopt more sanctions on Moscow.
The international community has expressed concern over the increasing numbers of civilian victims in the war. United Nations officials have warned about the situation, and US President Joe Biden has urged leaders to keep choking Russia's revenues and impede its war efforts. The conflict shows no signs of ending soon.
Key points
- At least 16 people have been killed in Russian and Ukrainian strikes over the last 24 hours.
- The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated, with both sides stepping up attacks.
- The situation on the ground is dire, with residents of Kyiv's Solomianskyi district cleaning up their building after a Russian drone strike.
