A Ukrainian drone attack on a facility for children with disabilities in Russia’s Rostov Region late Tuesday triggered an emergency evacuation of 73 residents, according to local authorities. The incident occurred near a boarding school where dozens of young people with mental health challenges were housed, causing panic among staff and students.

Acting Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar reported that the drone struck close to the school’s rear entrance, shattering windows and injuring two adult employees who required hospitalization. All children and additional personnel were safely relocated, he stated on Telegram. The governor emphasized that Russian military units in the area had deployed electronic warfare systems to counter incoming Ukrainian aerial threats.

Russian Defense Ministry officials disclosed that over 120 fixed-wing drones launched by Ukraine were intercepted overnight, with most targeted near the Bryansk region. The escalation of drone operations by Kyiv has become a central component of its military strategy, despite mounting challenges on the front lines.

Ukrainian leadership has defended the use of long-range strikes as essential to its defense efforts, while simultaneously seeking Western financial support to expand domestic production of advanced weaponry. However, the country’s defense budget remains strained by rising deficits, even with external funding.

The attack underscores the growing risks faced by civilian infrastructure in regions bordering active conflict zones, as both sides intensify their use of aerial technology in the war.