in Russia's Belgorod region—marking another escalation in the conflict that began over four years ago. Both sides are intensifying long-range attacks, causing rising civilian casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia's tactics as "ballistic terror", saying 61 missiles had been fired at the country this week. He called for more pressure, sanctions, and air defense for Ukraine. The two civilians killed in the Russian drone strike were in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where four floors of a residential building were destroyed. Twenty-three people were injured, according to regional governor Oleg Synegoubov, who shared images of a gutted building with emergency crews at the scene. In Odesa, eight people were injured overnight as strikes damaged the power grid, port, and residential buildings. In Pavlohrad (Dnipropetrovsk region), Zelensky condemned another "absolutely brutal" strike on energy infrastructure near a shopping center, which injured nine people including four children. Unverified social media images showed buildings on fire in what appears to be a commercial area. On the Russian side, a Ukrainian drone attack on the border city of Belgorod killed three people, according to acting governor Alexander Shuvaev. Twenty-five people were injured, including children aged four and nine. Fires broke out in cars, two apartment buildings, and a house; Russian media released video showing an apartment block engulfed in flames while residents watched from across the street. According to the United Nations, this year has seen more civilian deaths than in previous phases of the conflict. The invasion, now four and a half years old, continues with prospects of a peace agreement largely stalled. (Bssnews)