Kathmandu— Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region resulted in ten deaths and eight injuries, Ukrainian officials reported Tuesday, while Moscow experienced its largest drone assault in two years. Over 620 drones targeted the capital, with defenses reportedly intercepting most of them, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The escalation comes as front-line fighting remains stalled and diplomatic efforts are frozen, leading to a surge in civilian casualties.

Drone Attack on Moscow

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that Russian defenses destroyed 180 drones heading towards the capital between Monday evening and 5am local time. An additional 17 drones were shot down later, he said. The attack is being described by Russia’s state-run news agency TASS as the largest drone barrage on Moscow in the past two years. Three people were wounded in the region, including a ten-year-old girl, according to Governor Andrey Vorobyov.

Kharkiv Under Fire

Preliminary reports indicate that ten people were killed and eight injured in the Pechenihy settlement within the Kharkiv region, as reported by regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Five more individuals, including a nine-year-old boy, sustained injuries in Izyum. The attacks on Kharkiv add to a growing civilian death toll which has reached its highest levels since the early months of the war.

Escalating Long-Range Strikes

With ground combat largely stalled and peace negotiations suspended, both Ukraine and Russia have increased their reliance on long-range attacks. These intensified strikes are contributing to a significant rise in civilian casualties. A United Nations tally revealed that 437 civilians were killed in Ukraine during July alone – the highest monthly death toll since May 2022. Russian authorities reported 79 civilian deaths resulting from Ukrainian attacks in July, an increase compared to the previous month.

Wildberries Warehouse Targeted

A warehouse belonging to e-commerce giant Wildberries east of Moscow sustained damage during Tuesday’s drone assault. The company stated that its logistics complex experienced “minor damage” after being hit by debris. Ukraine has recently targeted several Wildberries warehouses, alleging the company supplies components used in Russian drones.

The exchange of attacks underscores the ongoing intensity of the conflict despite stalled peace talks and a lack of significant territorial gains for either side.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.