A Ukrainian drone attack has killed five people and injured around two dozen others in Russia's border region of Belgorod, according to Russian regional authorities.
The strike took place overnight, with the acting regional governor initially reporting three deaths and 25 injuries before the death toll later rose to five. The injured reportedly include children.
The attacks caused fires in two apartment buildings and damaged numerous residential and non-residential structures across the region.
Emergency crews were deployed to the affected areas as authorities worked to assess the damage, treat the wounded, and secure sites hit by the drone strikes.
Russia's Defense Ministry said more than 150 Ukrainian drones were destroyed across Russia's European regions, Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov during the wider overnight attack.
The Belgorod strike comes amid an intensifying campaign of long-range Ukrainian drone attacks against targets deep inside Russia, while Moscow continues launching missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities.
The latest escalation has again raised concerns over the growing danger to civilians on both sides of the conflict.
As emergency teams continue dealing with the aftermath in Belgorod, the exchange of attacks shows little sign of easing, with both Russia and Ukraine maintaining intense aerial operations.
