Casualties reported in assaults across Ukraine and Russia
In a series of drone attacks launched by Ukraine, multiple Russian regions were targeted overnight, including Moscow and Belgorod. The attacks resulted in casualties and damage, with the most significant impact being felt in Belgorod.
## Drone Attacks on Moscow
On July 17, Ukraine launched a significant drone attack targeting Moscow. Russian media reported that three drones were shot down approaching the capital by Russian air defenses between 2-3 a.m. local time. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that emergency services were deployed but did not mention any casualties or damage. Temporary flight restrictions were imposed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport as a precautionary measure due to the drone threat [1][2].
## Casualties in Belgorod
In the Belgorod region, a drone attack resulted in the death of one person and injured six others in the city of Belgorod. An additional person was injured in a separate incident within the region. The governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported that between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, three people were killed and 17 injured by drone attacks in the region [2].
## Overall Impact
The drone attacks by Ukraine extended beyond Moscow, targeting multiple regions across Russia, including Smolensk, Voronezh, and Belgorod. Russia's Defense Ministry reported that they downed 126 Ukrainian drones during the attacks, which resulted in at least two fatalities and several injuries nationwide [2][3]. These attacks are part of an ongoing escalation in the conflict, with both sides engaging in extensive drone warfare. Russia recently launched a large-scale air assault on Ukraine, prompting concerns about the conflict's trajectory [3].
Meanwhile, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dobropillia, a 500-kilogram bomb dropped over the city center targeted a shopping center, causing destruction and casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the "horrific, stupid Russian terror" in Dobropillia attack [4]. The exact number of casualties and damage in Dobropillia and the nearby city of Nikopol are not yet clear [1].
The claims of both warring parties cannot be independently verified. It is essential to note that this article does not provide new information about the front line between Russian and Ukrainian troops or the number of people living in Dobropillia or Nikopol.
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-drone-attacks-target-moscow-region-russia-says-2022-07-17/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61887229 [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/17/ukraine-claims-responsibility-for-drone-attacks-on-moscow-region [4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/17/ukraine-claims-responsibility-for-drone-attacks-on-moscow-region
News of the drone attacks on multiple Russian regions, including Moscow, has been circulating. The attacks were launched by Ukraine and resulted in casualties and damage, especially in Belgorod where a drone incident led to the death of one person and injuries to six others. Simultaneously, there was an incident in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dobropillia where a 500-kilogram bomb dropped over the city center, causing destruction and unknown casualties. This comes amidst an ongoing escalation in the conflict, with both parties engaging in extensive drone warfare and crime-and-justice issues.
