Conflict & Security
Russian and Ukrainian strikes kill at least 16, officials say
At least 16 people were killed in Ukrainian and Russian strikes on Saturday, according to officials on both sides, as attacks continued across Russian-occupied Ukraine, north-eastern Ukraine and Russian border areas.
Russian occupation authorities in southern Ukraine said a Ukrainian strike on the Azov Sea village of Kyrylivka killed eight people, including two children. Yevgeny Balitsky, the Moscow-installed head of the Russian-held part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, said Kyiv struck tourist camps in the seaside village and wounded 14 people. Kyiv had not yet commented on the strike.
Ukraine said a Russian drone strike on a Nova Poshta private courier service site in the north-eastern city of Sumy killed three drivers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a double-tap drone strike. Kyiv also said two more people were killed in southern Ukraine, while Moscow reported two villagers killed in border areas and one more person killed in the occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region.
Far from the battlefield, Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia's Tyumen region in Siberia, more than 1,000 miles east of Moscow. Tyumen Governor Alexander Moor said a Ukrainian drone fell on the refinery site and caused a fire. Moscow said Ukraine launched more than 300 drones into Russian territory, including into areas far from the border.
Zelensky said Ukraine also struck a factory in Kirov for a second day in a row, saying the plant supplied components for weapons used by Russia. Kirov Governor Alexander Sokolov declared three days of mourning after Friday's strike and said the final death toll from that attack was five, not six, after a man believed to be dead was found alive.
In Yekaterinburg, Russian online retailer Wildberries said it evacuated staff and suspended work at a logistics facility. The company said the facility was not damaged. Denis Pasler, head of the Sverdlovsk region, confirmed an attack on the city and said there were no casualties, while drones caused a fire at a parking lot.
The report said Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia have caused fuel shortages and disrupted ordinary life in Russia. It also said United States-led talks on ending the fighting are deadlocked, while the United Nations has warned that civilian deaths have increased recently in the nearly four-and-a-half-year war. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not comment on Saturday's attacks.
Update
At least 16 people were reported killed in Ukrainian and Russian strikes on Saturday.
Yevgeny Balitsky said the Kyrylivka strike wounded 14 people, and Kyiv had not yet commented on that strike.
Kyiv said a Russian drone strike on Nova Poshta in Sumy killed three drivers, and President Volodymyr Zelensky called it a double-tap strike.
Kyiv said two more people were killed in southern Ukraine.
Moscow reported two villagers killed in Russian border areas and one more person killed in the occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia's Tyumen region, according to the regional governor, who said a fire was caused.
Moscow said Ukraine launched more than 300 drones into Russian territory.
Zelensky said Ukraine struck a factory in Kirov for a second day in a row.
Kirov Governor Alexander Sokolov said the final death toll from Friday's strike was five, not six, after a man believed dead was found alive.
Wildberries said it evacuated staff and suspended work at a logistics facility in Yekaterinburg after an attack, while regional head Denis Pasler said there were no casualties and a fire broke out at a parking lot.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 11:03:39 UTC.
Update
Yevgeny Balitsky said 14 people were wounded, including three children.
Balitsky said rescue operations were ongoing.
Balitsky accused Ukraine of deliberately striking civilians.
The source says the village fell to Russian forces in the first days of Russia's 2022 offensive.
The source says civilian deaths in the Russia-Ukraine war have risen this summer as both sides intensified attacks.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 08:59:09 UTC.
Update
The Moscow-installed official was Yevgeny Balitsky, head of the Russian-held part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.
Balitsky said the attack hit tourist camps in Kyrylivka on the Sea of Azov at night.
Balitsky said two children were among the eight people killed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 08:46:34 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Kyiv had not commented on the reported Kyrylivka strike at the time of the source report.
Casualty and damage accounts in the source are attributed to Ukrainian, Russian or Moscow-installed officials and authorities.
Source
AFP news report published on .