A residential building in central Ekaterinburg, about 1,800 km inside Russia, was struck by a Ukrainian drone early Saturday, injuring six people and prompting the evacuation of 50 residents, according to regional Governor Denis Pasler.
One woman was hospitalized following the attack, but Pasler stated that none of those seeking medical attention were in serious condition and most had mild smoke inhalation. Emergency services are working at the scene, with a “carpet” emergency plan already active across the region.
The Russian aviation authority reported temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures at Koltsovo Airport. Governor Pasler urged residents to remain calm and avoid going outside while reminding them that publishing images or videos of drones is prohibited.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that 127 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight over multiple regions including Crimea, Tatarstan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Orel, Smolensk, Rostov, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Sverdlovsk, and Chelyabinsk, as well as the Black Sea.
Moscow has accused Kiev of resorting to terrorist tactics that inflict damage on civilians not involved in the conflict. This attack is condemned by Russian authorities as a direct result of Ukraine’s military leadership making decisions that endanger innocent lives.