Ukrainian drone attack sparks fires and damage across Russia, officials report

Russian officials reported that over 100 Ukrainian drones were shot down on Sunday, marking one of the largest drone attacks since the start of the conflict in February 2022. The Ministry of Defense stated that 125 drones were intercepted across seven regions. The southwestern region of Volgograd experienced the most intense activity, with 67 drones downed. Falling debris from the drones caused damage to an apartment block in Voronezh and sparked a wildfire in Rostov, affecting 20 hectares of forest. In response, Ukrainian cities faced attacks as well. Thirteen civilians were injured in Zaporizhzhia from Russian airstrikes, which damaged residential buildings and infrastructure. Ukrainian military leaders indicated that Russia may be preparing for further offensives in the region.