ALBAWABA- Ukrainian drone attacks overnight killed three people in Russia’s southern Rostov region, Russian authorities said, underscoring the growing reach of cross-border strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Regional Governor Yuri Slyusar reported that two crew members were killed after drones struck a cargo vessel, believed to be an oil tanker, moored at the port of Rostov-on-Don, triggering a fire. A third civilian was killed in the nearby city of Bataysk, where drones hit residential areas, wounding several others.
Officials said multiple drones targeted infrastructure across the region, with explosions reported in Rostov-on-Don and surrounding districts. Ukraine has not commented on the incident, in line with its longstanding policy of neither confirming nor denying attacks inside Russia.
The strikes highlight Ukraine’s expanding long-range drone capabilities, increasingly used to target Russian energy and logistics hubs that support Moscow’s war effort. The Rostov region, which borders Ukraine, is a critical military and supply artery and has come under repeated attack in recent months.
The incident comes as the war approaches its fourth year with front lines largely static, despite heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s Kursk region. Both sides continue to exchange record numbers of drone and missile strikes.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Indirect talks involving the United States and European leaders have failed to bridge deep divisions over territory. A meeting in Berlin on December 15 ended without progress, as Kyiv rejected Moscow’s demands over occupied areas, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated the need for firm security guarantees.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed for a rapid settlement, but European allies remain wary of concessions amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
