MOSCOW, Aug 14 — In a dramatic escalation just one day before a high-stakes US-Russia summit, Ukrainian drones struck two Russian cities, leaving at least 16 people injured and stirring fresh concerns about the conflict’s direction.
In Rostov-on-Don, a bustling city in southern Russia, residents were jolted awake as explosions ripped through the night. A drone slammed into an apartment building, injuring 13 people — two of them fighting for their lives in hospital. Acting regional governor Vasily Golubev described the attack as “a deliberate strike on civilians,” sparking anger and fear among locals.
In Belgorod, a city close to the Ukrainian border, three civilians were wounded in another drone attack. Video footage shared by the region’s governor captured a harrowing moment — a drone swooping down before striking a car in the heart of the city, sending smoke and debris into the air.
Further south, in the Volgograd region, debris from downed Ukrainian drones ignited a fire at a local oil refinery, authorities said. Emergency crews rushed to contain the blaze before it could spread.
Ukraine has not issued any official statement on the strikes, leaving the international community on edge as speculation swirls.
These attacks come at a pivotal moment — just hours before US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska. The rare face-to-face summit aims to address the grinding 3½-year war, but with blood freshly spilled, the path to peace seems more uncertain than ever.
