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Escalating Conflict: Russia and Ukraine Exchange Deadly Barrages

As the war of attrition intensifies, both nations report rising casualties following a massive wave of drone and missile strikes.

Foreign PolicyPublished August 17, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Emergency workers at the scene of an attack in Odesa on 9 August

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both nations reporting a surge in casualties and damage following intense rounds of drone and missile strikes. In the last 24 hours, Russian officials reported nine deaths and 23 injuries, including a child, resulting from Ukrainian strikes.

The Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, bore the brunt of the assault with eight fatalities, while a woman was killed in the Astrakhan region. These attacks follow what Russia described as one of the largest-scale drone offensives of the year, during which Ukraine reportedly launched over 800 drones, with hundreds targeting Moscow.

Ukraine’s intelligence leadership has signaled that these long-range strikes on Russian logistics hubs, such as the Wildberries warehouses, will continue, arguing that such facilities are integral to the Russian war machine. Meanwhile, Russia continues its own campaign of aerial bombardment across Ukraine.

Kyiv reported four deaths in the Sumy and Donetsk regions, while officials in Odesa noted damage to a civilian vessel. Russian forces have also targeted critical energy infrastructure, with Naftogaz reporting 13 attacks on its facilities in just one week.

Moscow maintains that its strikes are aimed at military production facilities, including those manufacturing missile and drone components. As the war enters its third year, with Russia occupying roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, both sides remain locked in a brutal exchange of fire, showing no signs of de-escalation.

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