Conflict & Security
Officials report civilian deaths in Ukrainian and Russian strikes
Officials on both sides said Ukrainian and Russian strikes killed civilians on Monday, with six deaths reported in Russia's Belgorod border region and eight deaths reported in Ukraine.
Alexander Shuvaev, the acting governor of Russia's Belgorod region, said on social media that a Ukrainian drone hit a passenger coach in Shebekino, less than five kilometres from the Ukrainian border. He said five civilians, including a minor, were killed and 23 civilians, including a teenager, were injured. Shuvaev described the attack as deliberate. He later said another Ukrainian strike hit a car wash in the nearby city of Belgorod and killed one man.
Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes killed two people in Pavlograd and two in Kramatorsk, both in eastern Ukraine. They said four more people were killed in the southern regions of Odesa and Zaporizhzhia.
Earlier Monday, Russian authorities said Ukraine launched scores of drones at the Moscow region, causing fires and wounding at least 10 people.
The attacks came amid intensified bombardment by Russia and increased retaliatory strikes by Kyiv. US-led talks aimed at ending the nearly four-and-a-half-year conflict remain stalled. The United Nations said more civilians were killed in Ukraine in June than in any single month since April 2022.
Update
Belgorod acting governor Alexander Shuvaev said a later Ukrainian strike on a car wash in the city of Belgorod killed a man.
Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes killed two people each in Pavlograd and Kramatorsk and four others in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The source says Ukrainian and Russian strikes reported on Monday killed six civilians in Russia's Belgorod region and eight people in Ukraine.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 19:01:59 UTC.
Update
Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes on Pavlograd and Kramatorsk killed two people in each city.
Ukrainian authorities said Russian bombardment of Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions killed four other people.
The item says Russia has escalated bombardments of Ukraine this month, while Kyiv has intensified retaliatory strikes.
It adds that Ukraine launched scores of drones at the Moscow region earlier Monday, causing fires and wounding at least 10 people, according to Russia.
It includes United Nations context that more civilians were killed in Ukraine in June than in any single month since April 2022.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 15:02:41 UTC.
Update
The acting governor said the dead included a child.
The acting governor said 23 civilians were injured, including a teenager.
The strike was reported in Shebekino, less than five kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes on Monday killed five people in Pavlograd, Kramatorsk and Zaporizhzhia.
Russia said earlier Monday that Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow region, causing fires and wounding at least 10 people.
The source says both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians.
The United Nations said more civilians were killed in Ukraine in June than in any single month since April 2022.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 13:30:14 UTC.
Update
The strike was reported in Russia's Belgorod border region.
The official cited was acting governor Alexander Shuvaev.
Shuvaev said the dead were four women and a boy.
Shuvaev said the statement was posted on Russia's state-backed Max messaging service.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 12:42:14 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The casualty figures are attributed to Russian and Ukrainian authorities and may be subject to change.
Source
AFP news report published on .