Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of deadly attacks on civilians

Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations on Tuesday over deadly attacks targeting civilians in cross-border strikes. Russian authorities reported that two civilians were killed when a Ukrainian kamikaze drone hit a civilian vehicle in the Pogarsky district of the Bryansk region. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling killed a married couple and their neighbor in the Zaporizhzhia region, damaging multiple homes and vehicles.

Details of the Incidents

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz stated on Telegram that the drone struck a moving car in the village of Chausy, calling it a “terrorist attack.” In Ukraine, Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, reported that the shelling destroyed or damaged at least six houses and burned three vehicles. The attacks underscore the continued spillover of violence into civilian areas despite frontline stalemates in the broader conflict.

Energy Infrastructure Under Attack in Kyiv

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that over one million residents in Kyiv were without electricity following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. He noted that more than 4,000 apartment blocks also lost heating, urging all efforts to restore services. The strikes are part of a sustained Russian campaign to degrade Ukraine’s power grid, particularly during winter months, exacerbating humanitarian hardships.

Broader Context of Escalating Cross-Border Strikes

Both sides have increasingly employed long-range drones and artillery to target territories behind front lines, often with civilian casualties. Such incidents highlight the expanding geographical scope of the war and the growing risks to non-combatants. The mutual accusations also reflect the entrenched informational warfare, with each side blaming the other for escalating violence against civilians.

Humanitarian and Diplomatic Implications

The civilian deaths are likely to further strain already minimal prospects for dialogue and could harden public attitudes in both countries. They also draw attention to the challenges of protecting civilians in a conflict characterized by deep strikes and contested airspace. International observers continue to call for restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law, though compliance remains inconsistent on the ground.