Russia intensifies strikes on Ukraine

by DMITRY SIDOROV
Special Correspondent
MOSCOW, (CAJ News) – RUSSIA has intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine, with a fresh wave of drone and missile strikes killing civilians, damaging homes and businesses, and putting renewed pressure on the country’s electricity and heating systems as winter approaches.

At least four people were killed in and around Kyiv during Wednesday night’s attacks, including a child whose body was recovered from the rubble of a destroyed residential building, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The strikes also damaged residential buildings, businesses, vehicles and energy infrastructure. Kyiv’s electricity provider, DTEK, said the attacks disrupted supplies to about 8,000 households, although power was subsequently restored.

The assault continued into Thursday. A Russian drone struck a school in Kyiv, causing a fire and shattering windows, although more than 100 pupils who had taken shelter were unharmed.

Another drone struck near a nuclear research facility, starting a fire without damaging its research reactor.

The growing lethality of Russia’s campaign reflects both the scale and changing composition of its attacks.

The United Nations says civilian casualties in Ukraine rose sharply during the first half of 2026, with 1,396 civilians killed and 7,978 injured. Short-range drones alone accounted for 418 deaths and 2,437 injuries.

Russia has also increased its use of ballistic and cruise missiles alongside large numbers of drones.

In July, Russia launched at least 429 missiles, more than twice the previous month’s total, according to UN monitors.

Ukraine’s air-defence resources are under sustained pressure, making large, combined salvos particularly difficult to intercept.

The human cost has consequently continued to climb.

The UN verified 437 civilian deaths and 2,610 injuries in July alone — the highest monthly civilian toll since March 2022.

Ukraine, meanwhile, continues striking targets inside Russia, including oil facilities and military-related infrastructure.

Recent Ukrainian attacks have damaged refineries and other facilities, while Russian authorities have reported civilian deaths and injuries.

However, describing Ukraine’s retaliation simply as “losing steam” would oversimplify the picture.

Kyiv continues conducting long-range strikes, but their effects are generally less immediately visible in civilian casualty figures than Russia’s sustained attacks on densely populated Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

The latest escalation therefore underscores a widening asymmetry: Russia is maintaining a high-volume campaign designed to strain Ukraine’s air defences and essential services, while Ukraine continues seeking to impose costs on Russian military and energy infrastructure.

– CAJ News