Russia has launched another major wave of drone attacks across Ukraine, with strikes reported in the Kyiv region, Zaporizhzhia and other areas as the Kremlin's aerial campaign intensifies.

In the Kyiv region, Ukrainian authorities reported casualties and extensive damage to warehouses, homes, apartment buildings and vehicles. One warehouse worker said two Shahed drones struck the facility, with a second drone reportedly hitting after emergency crews arrived. Ukrainian officials described the incident as a possible double-tap attack targeting first responders.

Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across Kyiv as authorities warned residents about worsening air quality following the attacks.

In Zaporizhzhia, Russian drones reportedly struck a major shopping and home-improvement complex, triggering a massive fire that spread across thousands of square meters. Several people were reportedly injured, while rescue operations faced the threat of further attacks.

The latest strikes are part of a wider Russian campaign targeting Ukrainian logistics, warehouses, distribution facilities and other infrastructure.

On the eastern front, Ukrainian forces say Russian troops are positioned just several kilometres away from key defensive areas around the Donbas fortress belt, increasing pressure on the battlefield.

Russia has also claimed that its air defenses intercepted or destroyed 512 Ukrainian drones across multiple Russian regions, Crimea and the Black Sea. Russian-installed authorities in Sevastopol also reported damage to a residential building and injuries.

Russia-Ukraine War | Massive Russian Drone Wave Hits Kyiv | Double-Tap Attack Reported

The Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate, with both sides exchanging heavy long-range strikes far beyond the front lines.

Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia’s southern regions reportedly killed two people, including an eight-year-old child, while debris damaged buildings in the port city of Novorossiysk. Russian authorities said their air defenses shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the Black Sea.

Ukraine, meanwhile, reported that Russian drone and missile strikes killed civilians in Kherson. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched a large wave of missiles and drones targeting areas including the Odesa region and northeastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also warned that Russia could be preparing for a new mobilisation following its September parliamentary elections. Ukrainian authorities say intelligence points to preparations for a potential large-scale recruitment drive, although Russian officials have not confirmed such a plan.

Ukraine Strikes Russia With Hundreds of Drones as Moscow Launches Major Air Assault

The Idlib region of some three million people has suffered increased regime and Russian air strikes in recent weeks, with hundreds of civilians killed since late April. To keep up, civil defence workers known as the White Helmets are digging graves in advance, to ensure funerals are swift and the few who attend are not killed at the cemetery.

Hounded by war planes, Syrians dig Idlib graves in advance

More than 18,000 people, nearly half of them civilians, have been killed in Russian air strikes on Syria since Moscow began its game-changing intervention three years ago, a monitor said.

Russia, a steadfast ally of Syria's ruling regime, began carrying out bombing raids in the country on September 30, 2015 -- more than four years into the devastating conflict.

Since then, they have killed 18,096 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"That number includes 7,988 civilians, or nearly half of the total," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.&nbsp;

Another 5,233 Islamic State fighters were also killed in Russian strikes, with the rest of the dead including other rebels, Islamists, and jihadists, the Britain-based monitor said.

Russia has operated a naval base in Syria's coastal Tartus province for decades, but expanded its operations to the nearby Hmeimim airbase in 2015.

It also has special forces and military police units on the ground in government-controlled parts of the country.

The air strikes were crucial in helping troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad retake swathes of the country, including second city Aleppo in 2016 and areas around Damascus, the rural centre, and the south this year alone.

"The regime controlled just 26 per cent of Syrian territory" when Russia intervened, said Abdel Rahman, compared with close to two-thirds now.

But human rights groups and Western governments have criticised Russia's air war in Syria, saying it bombs indiscriminately and targets civilian infrastructure including hospitals.

In addition to the Russian and Syrian air forces, warplanes from the US-led coalition fighting IS have also been carrying out bombing raids on Syria since September 2014.

Last week, the Observatory said that US-led coalition air strikes on Syria had killed more than 3,300 civilians since the alliance began operations against IS targets there in 2014.

The Observatory, which relies on sources inside Syria for its reports, says it determines whose planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions involved.

More than 18,000 people, nearly half of them civilians, have been killed in Russian air strikes on Syria since Moscow began its game-changing intervention three years ago, a monitor said.

More than 18,000 people, nearly half of them civilians, have been killed in Russian air strikes on Syria since Moscow began its game-changing intervention three years ago, a monitor said. Russia, a steadfast ally of Syria's ruling regime, began carrying out bombing raids in the country on September 30, 2015 -- more than four years into the devastating conflict. Since then, they have killed 18,096 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "That number includes 7,988 civilians, or nearly half of the total," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. Another 5,233 Islamic State fighters were also killed in Russian strikes, with the rest of the dead including other rebels, Islamists, and jihadists, the Britain-based monitor said. Russia has operated a naval base in Syria's coastal Tartus province for decades, but expanded its operations to the nearby Hmeimim airbase in 2015. It also has special forces and military police units on the ground in government-controlled parts of the country. The air strikes were crucial in helping troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad retake swathes of the country, including second city Aleppo in 2016 and areas around Damascus, the rural centre, and the south this year alone. "The regime controlled just 26 per cent of Syrian territory" when Russia intervened, said Abdel Rahman, compared with close to two-thirds now. But human rights groups and Western governments have criticised Russia's air war in Syria, saying it bombs indiscriminately and targets civilian infrastructure including hospitals. In addition to the Russian and Syrian air forces, warplanes from the US-led coalition fighting IS have also been carrying out bombing raids on Syria since September 2014. Last week, the Observatory said that US-led coalition air strikes on Syria had killed more than 3,300 civilians since the alliance began operations against IS targets there in 2014. The Observatory, which relies on sources inside Syria for its reports, says it determines whose planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions involved.

Three years of Russia strikes on Syria kill 18,000: Monitor

Russia on Tuesday announced the&nbsp;extension of a moratorium on air strikes by Russian and Syrian planes on the city of Aleppo.&nbsp;

Defence ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said Russian and Syrian planes had not even approached, let alone bombed, the devastated city since last Tuesday when Russia suspended air strikes ahead of a pause in hostilities.

&quot;All flights by Russian and Syrian air forces have been completely halted in a 10-kilometre zone around Aleppo since October 18,&quot; senior military official Sergei Rudskoi said at a briefing.&nbsp;

Moscow said it will uphold the moratorium on bombings that has been in effect for the last eight days, but did not specify a timeframe.&nbsp;

Dismissing Russia&#39;s claims, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that rebel-held parts of the divided city had been struck in recent days, although there had been no civilian deaths from air strikes inside eastern Aleppo.&nbsp; 
The monitor told that air strikes had resumed since the lull in fighting ended on Saturday, focusing on major front lines, including in the city&#39;s southwest.&nbsp;

Washington said it would prefer a long-term ceasefire to ensure delivery of aid, and urged Russia to use the newly announced pause to ensure support to besieged civilians.

&quot;We obviously welcome any reduction in the violence, but it has to be met with a commitment and an actual delivery of humanitarian assistance, which was the purpose in the first place,&quot; the state department spokesman John Kirby told a briefing.

Earlier, Russia said that six passages for civilians to leave rebel-held eastern Aleppo were still functioning and that 48 women and children left late Monday.&nbsp;

But it had ruled out early moves to renew its total ceasefire in Aleppo after the brief truce ended. It said that few people had used humanitarian passages to leave the city, blaming the US-led coalition of failure to ensure security.&nbsp;

For its part, the UN on Monday criticised all the warring sides, the Syrian forces and the rebel groups for failing to organise evacuations during the ceasefire window.

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
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Russian and Syrian planes have agreed to extend the halt in Aleppo bombings, that has been in place for the last eight days

Russia on Tuesday announced the extension of a moratorium on air strikes by Russian and Syrian planes on the city of Aleppo. Defence ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said Russian and Syrian planes had not even approached, let alone bombed, the devastated city since last Tuesday when Russia suspended air strikes ahead of a pause in hostilities. "All flights by Russian and Syrian air forces have been completely halted in a 10-kilometre zone around Aleppo since October 18," senior military official Sergei Rudskoi said at a briefing. Moscow said it will uphold the moratorium on bombings that has been in effect for the last eight days, but did not specify a timeframe. Dismissing Russia's claims, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that rebel-held parts of the divided city had been struck in recent days, although there had been no civilian deaths from air strikes inside eastern Aleppo. The monitor told that air strikes had resumed since the lull in fighting ended on Saturday, focusing on major front lines, including in the city's southwest. Washington said it would prefer a long-term ceasefire to ensure delivery of aid, and urged Russia to use the newly announced pause to ensure support to besieged civilians. "We obviously welcome any reduction in the violence, but it has to be met with a commitment and an actual delivery of humanitarian assistance, which was the purpose in the first place," the state department spokesman John Kirby told a briefing. Earlier, Russia said that six passages for civilians to leave rebel-held eastern Aleppo were still functioning and that 48 women and children left late Monday. But it had ruled out early moves to renew its total ceasefire in Aleppo after the brief truce ended. It said that few people had used humanitarian passages to leave the city, blaming the US-led coalition of failure to ensure security. For its part, the UN on Monday criticised all the warring sides, the Syrian forces and the rebel groups for failing to organise evacuations during the ceasefire window. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Russia extends moratorium on Aleppo air strikes

Russia today denied that one of its air raids hit a dazed and bloodied Syrian boy whose heart-wrenching photograph has drawn worldwide attention. 
 
The defence ministry issued an official denial that it carried out a strike on eastern Aleppo on Wednesday evening when the images of four-year-old Omran were taken. 
 
&quot;The Russian planes operating in Syria never work on targets that are inside settled areas,&quot; ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. 
 
The photographer who shot the video for Aleppo Media Centre, a network of activists, told AFP he took the images after an air strike on Wednesday night hit the Qaterji neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo. 
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<h5>&quot;The Russian planes operating in Syria never work on targets that are inside settled areas,&quot; ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=&quot;The Russian planes operating in Syria never work on targets that are inside settled areas,&quot; ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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Konashenkov said Qaterji was particularly out of bounds for Russian strikes because it adjoins two of the humanitarian corridors Moscow has opened for residents to flee.&nbsp;He branded Western media reports on Omran as a &quot;cynical exploitation&quot; of the tragic situation in eastern Aleppo and &quot;cliched anti-Russian propaganda&quot;. 
 
He suggested the attack could have been carried out by rebels in Aleppo using homemade rockets to target roads close to the humanitarian corridors to undermine Russia&#39;s efforts.&nbsp;He also suggested however that the area where Omran was may not have been bombed at all, citing footage of unbroken windows. 
 
&quot;If a strike really did take place,&quot; he said, &quot;it was not an aerial strike but either a gas cylinder used in large quantities there by terrorists, or a mortar shell&quot;. 
 
Russia said Thursday that its strikes by warplanes based in Iran hit areas held by the Islamic State jihadist group in Deir Ezzor province, the third day of raids from the Hamedan base. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

A minister branded Western media reports on Omran as a 'cynical exploitation' of the tragic situation, and 'cliched anti-Russian propaganda'

Russia today denied that one of its air raids hit a dazed and bloodied Syrian boy whose heart-wrenching photograph has drawn worldwide attention. The defence ministry issued an official denial that it carried out a strike on eastern Aleppo on Wednesday evening when the images of four-year-old Omran were taken. "The Russian planes operating in Syria never work on targets that are inside settled areas," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. The photographer who shot the video for Aleppo Media Centre, a network of activists, told AFP he took the images after an air strike on Wednesday night hit the Qaterji neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo. "The Russian planes operating in Syria never work on targets that are inside settled areas," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. Konashenkov said Qaterji was particularly out of bounds for Russian strikes because it adjoins two of the humanitarian corridors Moscow has opened for residents to flee. He branded Western media reports on Omran as a "cynical exploitation" of the tragic situation in eastern Aleppo and "cliched anti-Russian propaganda". He suggested the attack could have been carried out by rebels in Aleppo using homemade rockets to target roads close to the humanitarian corridors to undermine Russia's efforts. He also suggested however that the area where Omran was may not have been bombed at all, citing footage of unbroken windows. "If a strike really did take place," he said, "it was not an aerial strike but either a gas cylinder used in large quantities there by terrorists, or a mortar shell". Russia said Thursday that its strikes by warplanes based in Iran hit areas held by the Islamic State jihadist group in Deir Ezzor province, the third day of raids from the Hamedan base. (AFP)