Child Deaths in Krasnodar
Two children were killed and nine people, including seven children, were injured when drone debris fell on a private childcare centre in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said. The attack occurred overnight, according to multiple reports. Kondratyev, writing on the Telegram messaging app, confirmed the deaths and injuries, saying seven children and two adults had been taken to hospital.
The governor said debris also fell on apartment buildings and warehouses, sparking fires. Russian online retailer Ozon reported a fire at one of its logistics hubs in the city, with the company saying on Telegram that a “major fire” was burning at the facility but that there were no casualties.
Russian Strikes on Kharkiv
In a related development, a Russian attack on the outskirts of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed three people, the regional governor said on Telegram late on Sunday. Ukraine has been seeking additional interceptor missiles from the United States and Europe to defend against such attacks, now in the fifth year of the war that Russia began in February 2022.
Drone Attacks Across Southern Russia
In the Stavropol region, adjacent to Krasnodar, a drone attack on the industrial zone of Nevinnomyssk was repelled, according to Governor Vladimir Vladimirov. He said some drones had been destroyed and urged residents not to approach the wreckage. The area houses a chemical production zone, prompting heightened vigilance.
The attacks reflect a pattern of Ukraine stepping up strikes on logistics hubs and warehouses across Russia, bringing the conflict closer to civilians and businesses involved in the country's online retail economy. Kyiv's military has said it is launching a new campaign targeting Ozon, following similar strikes against Russian online retailer Wildberries, according to The Hindu.
Putin's Warning
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments published on Saturday that Kyiv had opened a “Pandora's box” with its strikes on Russian economic targets and warned that Moscow would retaliate against Ukraine's “most sensitive economic sectors.”
Russian Defence Ministry Reports
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry reported intercepting large numbers of Ukrainian drones. It said that from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Moscow time on August 23, air defence systems destroyed 269 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over Crimea, the Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Rostov, Smolensk, Tula, Moscow, and Krasnodar regions, and the Black Sea. Earlier, on August 22, the ministry reported 250 drones destroyed during the same time window. On August 15-16, it reported 822 drones intercepted overnight.
The ministry's figures could not be independently confirmed.
EU Support and Independence Day
As Ukraine prepared to mark its Independence Day, European Union leaders reiterated their support. European Council President António Costa was expected in Kiev on Monday and said the EU would continue to provide support “for as long as necessary,” while the bloc threatened further sanctions against Russia.