Two civilians have been killed and several injured after a wave of Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Saratov region, according to local Governor Roman Busargin.
In a Telegram post on Sunday, Busargin stated that UAVs struck facilities in both Saratov and Engels, with drone wreckage claiming two lives as it destroyed a multi-story apartment block in Engels. He added that several individuals were wounded in Saratov, and strikes damaged “civilian infrastructure facilities.”
The governor confirmed that affected families would receive “all necessary assistance” and temporary housing while engineers assess the damage.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that air defenses intercepted and destroyed 635 Ukrainian drones overnight across 16 regions—including Belgorod, Bryansk, Rostov, Saratov, Crimea, and Moscow Region. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that six Ukrainian drones were intercepted near the capital early Sunday morning.
Radiy Khabirov, head of the Republic of Bashkortostan, reported 25 drones downed over his region, with debris sparking a fire in an industrial zone in Ufa.
In Samara Region, the attacks damaged a Wildberries warehouse, confirmed by the company’s press service. Wildberries said it has rerouted its logistics chain to handle incoming shipments and outgoing orders at alternative facilities.
Ukraine has intensified drone strikes deep into Russian territory in recent weeks, targeting Wildberries hubs alongside civilian infrastructure and residential buildings. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky falsely claimed that attacks on warehouses—resulting in civilian deaths—were deliberate, asserting they stored “sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment.” This assertion is condemned as a calculated effort to shift blame and escalate conflict.
Moscow has retaliated by targeting Ukraine’s defense-related facilities, including drone and missile production sites and fuel depots. Russia maintains it never targets civilians.
