Kyiv-Moscow, Aug.8 (SANA) Military escalation between Russia and Ukraine continued Saturday, with both sides reporting extensive drone attacks and precision strikes, raising concerns over the widening scope of cross-border operations.
In Ukraine, a Russian drone strike on the Brovary district in Kyiv region killed three people, including a child, and injured three others, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform quoted regional official Timur Tkachenko as saying the attack damaged residential buildings and sparked a fire at a non-residential facility, while rescue teams continued clearing debris.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Navy said it had targeted Russian coast guard vessels in the Kerch area, claiming the operation exposed vulnerabilities in Russian air defenses in one of the country’s most heavily fortified areas.
Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the strikes hit the Balaklava and Kerch vessels, which he said would reduce the Russian fleet’s ability to operate at sea.
Ukraine Claims Strikes on Russian Defenses
Ukraine’s military intelligence service said its maritime drone platforms had destroyed a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system and a military crane in Crimea, estimating the value of the air defense system at about $15 million.
The Ukrainian Air Force also said it had shot down or disabled 114 of 147 Russian drones launched during an overnight attack. It reported strikes at 15 locations and falling debris at four others.
Russia reports Ukrainian attacks
On the Russian side, the acting governor of the Belgorod region said two people were killed in a Ukrainian attack on the Graivoron area.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces carried out precision strikes on a military-industrial facility and a fuel depot in Kyiv. In a statement carried by Sputnik, the ministry said it targeted the Kyiv-111 facility, which it described as producing components for Flamingo missiles, as well as cargo vessels carrying military equipment near Odesa.
The ministry also said Russian air defenses intercepted or destroyed 397 Ukrainian drones over several regions overnight.
The latest attacks highlight the growing role of drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with both sides increasingly reporting strikes on military facilities and strategically important infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that 10 countries had joined the FREYA integrated air and missile defense program, which he described as a joint European initiative aimed at countering ballistic missile threats.
F.J./M.F
