Russian strikes kill five in Ukraine as drone warfare intensifies

Russian forces conducted fresh air strikes across Ukraine, leaving at least five people dead in the latest round of attacks, according to reports emerging from the conflict zone. The strikes targeted multiple areas as Moscow's military apparatus continues its sustained aerial campaign against Ukrainian positions and civilian infrastructure.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces downed 453 Ukrainian drones overnight in various regions, adding to the ongoing tally of intercepted unmanned aircraft. The figure reflects the scale of drone operations by Ukrainian forces, which have increasingly relied on unmanned systems to strike Russian targets and military installations.

The renewed bombardment represents a continuation of the relentless air war that has defined the conflict since Russia's 2022 invasion. Both sides have escalated their use of aerial assets, from conventional aircraft to drone swarms, seeking strategic advantage across the contested territory.

Civilian infrastructure has borne the brunt of the air campaign, with strikes repeatedly damaging power facilities and residential areas. Casualty figures from individual raids remain fluid as assessments continue across affected regions, though the human toll continues to mount as the conflict grinds on.