Russian officials reported that the Sochi drone strike was part of a broader wave of Ukrainian aerial attacks targeting energy sites across the country. In addition to Sochi, drone strikes were reported in Ryazan, Penza, and Voronezh, where four people were injured. Russia’s defence ministry stated that 93 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight, including 60 over the Black Sea region.

These developments follow a pattern of Ukrainian retaliation for Russian assaults on Ukraine’s energy grid. Ukraine’s air force also reported that Russia launched up to 83 drones and missiles overnight, 61 of which were intercepted. However, 16 drones and six missiles reportedly struck targets across eight Ukrainian locations.

Kherson And Kyiv Struck Again As Civilian Toll Rises

In southern Ukraine, Russian forces again targeted the Ostrivsky bridge in Kherson, prompting calls for a partial evacuation by local authorities. Around 1,800 residents remain in the area, which has seen repeated strikes this week. Separately, Mykolaiv sustained heavy damage, with seven people injured and multiple homes destroyed.

Meanwhile, a Thursday attack on Kyiv marked one of the deadliest assaults on the capital since the war began in 2022, killing at least 31 people. Ukrainian officials stated that more than 300 drones and eight cruise missiles were used in the assault.

Following the escalation in attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for stronger international sanctions on Russia. In the United States, President Donald Trump condemned Moscow’s actions and hinted at new sanctions. Trump, who had previously given Russian President Vladimir Putin a 50-day deadline to end the war, recently updated the ultimatum to 10 or 12 days, setting an August 8 expiration for potential U.S. penalties.