Russia kills eight people in Ukraine, attacks two vessels in Black Sea

Russian forces have launched widespread missile, drone, and artillery attacks across Ukraine, causing civilian casualties while hitting regional infrastructure and commercial shipping in the Black Sea.

Ukraine’s Air Force on Saturday reported facing a huge overnight barrage involving 174 drones from across Russia and Ukraine’s annexed Crimean Peninsula, alongside two Zircon antiship missiles launched from Russia’s Kursk region.

The Air Force said in a statement on Telegram that air defences intercepted or jammed 141 incoming targets, with downings recorded in 15 locations and falling debris in nine others. “Enemy [Zircon antiship] missiles did not reach the targets,” it said.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed its forces used Geran-4 Seeker loitering drones to strike two commercial vessels in the Black Sea – a Ukrainian dry cargo ship en route to Odesa and a docked tanker in the port of Odesa – asserting that both ships were carrying military supplies.

In the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed Russian attacks spanning 14 settlements killed five people and injured 15 others, causing heavy destruction in towns like Balakliya and Lypkuvativka.

In the Kherson region, shelling across 25 communities killed three people and injured five others, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. The bombardment also damaged high-rise apartments, private homes, a cell tower, and a gas pipeline, he said.

The Dnipropetrovsk region came under heavy fire, enduring more than 10 separate Russian attacks across four areas using drones, artillery, and aerial bombs, head of the regional administration Oleksandr Ganzha said.

“Two people were injured. The enemy attacked four areas more than 10 times with drones, artillery, and aerial bombs.”