Kathmandu— Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault on Moscow overnight, reportedly destroying 201 drones over the region, while Russia responded by bombarding Kyiv with ballistic missiles. The attacks resulted in at least one death and multiple injuries in both countries, signaling a significant escalation of hostilities as the conflict continues. Russian authorities claim to have downed 822 drones nationwide, while Ukrainian officials report casualties from retaliatory strikes on Kryvyi Rih and other areas. The exchange highlights an increasingly aggressive pattern of long-range strikes by both sides.

Drone Attacks Target Moscow Region

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that the city was targeted with 600 drones, with 201 destroyed in the surrounding region. Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow oblast, confirmed an 83-year-old man was killed when a drone struck a private home. The attacks reached the outskirts of the capital, bypassing what defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer described as Russia’s “best and most dense antiair defences.”

Kyiv Under Ballistic Missile Attack

Ukrainian authorities reported that Kyiv came under ballistic missile attack late Saturday, resulting in at least one injury and fires breaking out at nonresidential sites. Simultaneously, attacks on southern Russia’s Rostov region left at least five people dead according to regional officials. A woman was killed and six wounded in a missile and drone strike on Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

NATO Responds to Airspace Breach

Romania's Ministry of National Defence reported that a Spanish F-18 jet participating in a NATO air policing mission shot down a drone breaching Romanian airspace. NATO spokesperson Martin O’Donnell stated the alliance is prepared to defend itself, adding that preliminary investigations suggest the drone was Russian. This marks the fourth such incident in Romania this year, with the drone originating from neighboring Moldova.

Escalating Long-Range Strikes and Civilian Impact

Russia has consistently conducted near-daily missile and drone strikes across Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in early 2022. These attacks have increasingly targeted areas far from the front lines, impacting civilian infrastructure and resulting in a surge of casualties. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported that July saw the highest number of civilian deaths in Ukraine since 2022, with at least 437 killed and 2,610 injured. Ukraine has responded by targeting military, industrial, and logistical facilities within Russia, justifying these strikes as retaliation for Moscow’s attacks on Ukrainian cities.

The reciprocal attacks between Ukraine and Russia demonstrate a continuing escalation of the conflict with no immediate indication of de-escalation. Investigations into the Romanian airspace breach are ongoing.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.