Kathmandu— A series of drone attacks overnight Tuesday into Wednesday resulted in four deaths – two in Ukraine’s Kherson region and two in southern Russia – with significant damage reported to civilian infrastructure in multiple locations. The reciprocal strikes saw Ukrainian drones targeting Novorossiysk, a key Russian port city, while Russian forces attacked cities including Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa. These attacks come amid stalled peace negotiations and intensified conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Novorossiysk Under Attack

Russia’s Novorossiysk experienced a particularly devastating night, with a child killed and eight people injured according to regional officials. Mayor Andrei Kravchenko described the city as having “endured a horrific night,” reporting damage to dozens of buildings including homes. The Novorossiysk grain terminal also sustained damage, its owner, Demetra Holding, confirmed. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported that another person was killed when drone debris fell in the village of Volna.

Ukrainian Strikes Target Russian Infrastructure

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces used jet-powered drones, missiles and unmanned naval systems to target a naval base in Novorossiysk, specifically hitting air defence positions, piers and seaport infrastructure. According to reports, Ukraine has committed to halting drone strikes on oil tankers using the port of Novorossiysk following a request from US Vice President JD Vance.

Russian Attacks Intensify in Ukraine

In Kherson, Russian Shahed drone attacks killed two people and injured at least two others. Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that an elderly woman was among those wounded. Elsewhere, a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia triggered a fire at a shopping mall, cutting off power to approximately 1,200 consumers, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. Damage to infrastructure was also reported in Odesa, Ukraine’s largest seaport, with Russia’s Defence Ministry claiming to have hit a fuel depot there.

Stalled Peace Talks and Ongoing Conflict

Talks aimed at ending the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, remain largely stalled. Kyiv recently presented proposals for a peace plan to US negotiators, but Russia insists any settlement must involve Ukraine ceding four regions Moscow claims and addressing what it considers the “root causes” of the conflict. The intensification of strikes on food, agriculture, and warehouse facilities by Moscow follows Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy, port, and logistics hubs.

The exchange of attacks underscores the continued escalation of the conflict despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, with both sides demonstrating a willingness to target critical infrastructure within each other’s territories.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.