Russia says Ukrainian strike kills five civilians as both sides intensify attacks

Russia says a Ukrainian strike on a bus in Belgorod killed five civilians, including a child, while Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow. At the same time, Russian strikes killed civilians in several Ukrainian cities. The renewed attacks highlight the continued escalation of the war, now in its fifth year.

Russia has accused Ukraine of killing five civilians, including a minor, after a strike hit a bus in the Belgorod border region, as both countries stepped up military attacks amid the ongoing war.
The latest exchange of strikes comes after Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow, while Russia continued missile and bombardment attacks on several Ukrainian cities.

BUS ATTACK IN BELGOROD

Russian authorities said a Ukrainian strike targeted a civilian bus in the Belgorod region on Monday, killing five people, including a child.
Officials added that three other passengers suffered critical injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Belgorod, which borders northeastern Ukraine, has frequently come under attack since the conflict expanded, with both sides accusing each other of targeting civilian areas.

UKRAINE LAUNCHES MAJOR DRONE ATTACK

The bus strike followed a large-scale Ukrainian drone assault on Moscow.
According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, more than 400 Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian capital between Sunday and Monday.
Russian air defence systems reportedly intercepted most of the drones, but officials said at least 10 people were injured and several residential buildings and civilian infrastructure facilities sustained damage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted Russian military logistics facilities and an oil depot, describing them as retaliation for continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

RUSSIAN ATTACKS KILL CIVILIANS IN UKRAINE

Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported fresh Russian attacks across the country.
Local officials said two people were killed in Pavlograd and another two in Kramatorsk following Russian strikes.
In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, one civilian was also reported dead after bombardment.
The latest attacks came days after Russia launched one of its largest ballistic missile assaults on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

BOTH SIDES DENY TARGETING CIVILIANS

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly denied deliberately attacking civilians throughout the conflict.
However, cross-border strikes, missile attacks and drone operations have continued to claim civilian lives on both sides.
The renewed violence underscores the growing intensity of the conflict despite repeated international calls for negotiations and a ceasefire.

MILITARY LEADERSHIP RUMOURS DISMISSED

Amid the fighting, Ukraine's military dismissed reports suggesting President Zelenskyy was planning to remove Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The rumours emerged following the recent dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a decision that sparked protests in parts of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has nominated Yevhenii Khmara, the acting head of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), to serve as acting defence minister pending parliamentary approval.
The Ukrainian president also held meetings with senior military commanders on Monday to review the latest battlefield developments as the war entered its fifth year.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Military operations remain intense across multiple fronts, with both Russia and Ukraine continuing to rely heavily on drones, missiles and long-range strikes.
Analysts warn that the latest escalation could further reduce prospects for near-term peace talks as both sides seek military advantage.
With civilian casualties continuing to rise, international concern over the humanitarian impact of the war is also expected to grow.