Kathmandu— Recent escalations in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia have seen intensified missile strikes on both sides, resulting in a rising civilian death toll. On Monday, a Ukrainian missile attack struck the village of Koloskovo in Russia’s Belgorod region, killing six people and injuring four others, including a child. Simultaneously, Russian forces targeted port infrastructure in Izmail district, Odesa region, overnight, causing fires that have since been extinguished.

Border Region Under Fire

Belgorod acting Governor Alexander Shuvaev reported the Ukrainian missile strike on Koloskovo, located approximately 15 kilometers from the Ukraine border. The attack resulted in a structure being burned and a vehicle damaged. This incident follows a pattern of increased cross-border strikes that have killed 19 people on both sides over the past day.

Odesa Port Infrastructure Targeted

Ukrainian authorities stated that Russia targeted port infrastructure in Izmail district, Odesa region, overnight. The Russian defence ministry claimed to have hit military targets within the port, including a berthing terminal used for unloading vessels carrying military cargo, hangars housing Western military equipment, and depots for naval drones. While these assertions could not be independently verified by Reuters, the attack caused fires that were later extinguished.

Rising Civilian Casualties

The recent surge in attacks has led to a significant increase in civilian casualties on both sides of the conflict. A United Nations tally recorded 437 civilian deaths in Ukraine during July alone – the highest monthly toll since May 2022. Russian authorities reported 79 civilian deaths within Russia for the same period, an increase from the previous month. This escalation comes as frontline fighting remains largely stalled and peace talks are frozen.

Shifting Ukrainian Tactics

Ukraine has increasingly focused its attacks on targets aimed at disrupting Russia’s war economy. These include warehouses belonging to Wildberries, a major Russian online retailer, which Ukraine alleges supplies components for Russian drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that these strikes, along with attacks on oil refineries, are intended to undermine Russia's ability to sustain the conflict.

The escalating exchange of missile strikes underscores the intensifying nature of the conflict and highlights the growing risk to civilian populations in both Ukraine and Russia.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.