A series of drone strikes has claimed seven lives in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, according to local officials. The attacks, which intensified overnight, targeted residential areas in Donetsk and Luhansk, regions partially controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Among the dead are two children, with dozens more wounded.
The strikes come amid a broader escalation of drone warfare, with both sides using unmanned aerial vehicles to hit military and civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have not commented directly on the strikes but have previously denied targeting civilians. The Kremlin accused Kyiv of committing war crimes, while international observers called for restraint.
The rising civilian toll underscores the brutal nature of a conflict now in its third year, with no end in sight.
