In Ukraine, a Russian missile strike just outside Kyiv killed six people and injured dozens, followed hours later by a rare daytime missile attack on the capital. Meanwhile, two Russian aerial bombs hit the frontline city of Sloviansk, leaving five people dead.

In response, Ukraine launched a series of drone and missile strikes deep into Russian territory. A strike on a factory in Kirov—located over 1,000 kilometers from the front—killed six people and wounded 26 others, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating the facility supplied military components. Ukrainian forces also targeted warehouses owned by online retailer Wildberries near Saint Petersburg, sending plumes of smoke over the city in their third attack on the company this week.

The sudden surge in long-range bombardments reflects a broader, deadlier phase of the war. According to the United Nations, civilian casualties surged by 37 percent in the first half of this year compared to 2024. With diplomatic efforts effectively stalled, both sides continue to expand the geographic scope and intensity of their attacks, taking an increasingly heavy toll on civilian lives.