Kathmandu— Ukraine conducted one of its largest aerial attacks to date against Russia on Sunday, deploying hundreds of drones that resulted in at least six confirmed fatalities. The assault targeted military industries, energy facilities, and even commercial infrastructure like Wildberries warehouses, bringing the conflict directly to Russian civilians. Simultaneously, Russia launched retaliatory strikes into Ukraine, causing significant damage to cities including Kryvyi Rih and Kyiv, where a landmark book market was destroyed.

Escalation of Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Kyiv has significantly increased its attacks on Russian territory this year, utilizing long-range missiles and drone swarms. These strikes have focused on military targets but have also extended to commercial entities like the Wildberries online retail giant, causing billions of dollars in damage. The recent aerial assault involved hundreds of drones launched across Russia, marking a substantial escalation in Ukraine’s offensive capabilities. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that approximately 600 drones were headed toward the capital, with around one-third intercepted over the Moscow region.

Russian Casualties and Damage

At least six people were killed in Russia as a result of the Ukrainian drone attacks. In the Moscow region, an 83-year-old man was fatally struck by a drone hitting his home, according to local Gov. Andrey Vorobyov, who also confirmed damage to a Wildberries warehouse in Podolsk. Further south, in the Rostov region, five people were killed when over 150 drones targeted several towns, damaging homes, a railway station, and igniting a forest fire.

Ukrainian Cities Under Fire

While launching its aerial assault on Russia, Ukraine also endured heavy strikes from Russian forces. A missile attack on Kryvyi Rih killed two people and injured 14 others, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Another fatality was confirmed in the city of Sumy. Elsewhere, a Russian strike in the Zaporizhzhia region claimed the lives of a man and a woman. In Kyiv, fires erupted throughout the capital, injuring six individuals and devastating one of the city’s largest book markets near the Pochaina metro station.

NATO Response to Drone Intrusion

A Romanian fighter jet downed an unidentified drone that entered its airspace on Sunday morning. Romania’s Ministry of National Defense stated that a Spanish Air and Space Force F-18 intercepted the drone approximately 24 kilometers north of Galati, near the border with Moldova. Debris from the drone was also discovered in the Black Sea near Constanta. This incident follows weeks of similar airspace violations, prompting Spain to increase its air policing deployment in Romania at NATO’s request.

Investigations are ongoing into the origin of the downed drone over Romanian territory. The reciprocal attacks between Ukraine and Russia underscore the escalating nature of the conflict and the increasing impact on civilian populations.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.