17 Killed in Fresh Russian, Ukrainian Long-Range Strikes

At least 17 people were killed on Friday as Russia and Ukraine exchanged long-range missile and drone strikes, underscoring the escalating intensity of the war amid stalled diplomatic efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a Russian missile strike outside Kyiv killed six people, with rescue operations continuing and dozens more reported injured.

He also said five people were killed after Russian forces dropped aerial bombs on the frontline city of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine.

On the same day, Ukraine launched a series of long-range drone and missile attacks deep inside Russia.

Russian authorities said an attack on a factory in Kirov, more than 1,000 kilometres from the frontline, killed six people and injured 26 others.

Zelensky said the strike targeted a key military enterprise that manufactures components for Russian aircraft and missile systems used in attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Kirov Governor Alexander Sokolov confirmed that the factory had been hit and said the victims died at the scene.

Ukraine also targeted warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries near Saint Petersburg for the third time this week. Zelensky accused the company of storing drone components and supporting Russia's military, describing the attacks as successful.

The latest exchanges came as the United Nations reported that civilian casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war have reached their highest level this summer since the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

In Saint Petersburg, the attacks triggered large plumes of smoke over parts of the city. While some residents expressed fear over the growing violence, others blamed Ukraine and voiced support for continuing Russia's military campaign.

Ukraine has said its long-range strikes are intended to weaken Russia's military capabilities and pressure Moscow into negotiations to end the conflict.

Hours after the attacks inside Russia, explosions were heard over Kyiv following warnings of incoming Russian missiles, marking another wave of strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

Meanwhile, Vadym Filashkin, governor of the Donetsk region, said Russian forces dropped two aerial bombs on Sloviansk, a strategically important city near the frontline that has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014.

The United Nations said earlier this week that civilian casualties in the war increased by 37 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.