KYIV, Ukraine — Russian strikes wounded at least five people in Ukraine on Sunday, as the two countries exchanged drone, missile, and shelling attacks. Along the front line in the east, Russia reported taking control of two villages, one in the Kharkiv region and one in the Luhansk region.
In southern Ukraine’s partly occupied Kherson region, Russian drone strikes wounded three people, local officials reported Sunday morning. In the northeast, Kharkiv region officials said two people were wounded when Russian shells hit a village.
Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted 35 of the 39 drones launched by Russia overnight into Sunday, according to air force commander Mykola Oleschuk. Additionally, Russia launched three ballistic missiles and two guided air missiles, which failed to reach their targets, he added.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced Sunday that its troops had captured two villages: Pishchane Nizhne in the Kharkiv region and Andriivka, also known as Rozivka, in the Luhansk region. Kyiv has not yet commented on these claims.
In the northern Sumy region, officials said Sunday that Russia launched a missile strike on “critical infrastructure facilities” in Shostka. City mayor Mykola Noha reported that “two heating facilities” were destroyed and urged residents to use electricity sparingly and stock up on water.
With few changes reported along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, both sides have targeted infrastructure to curb each other’s ability to fight as the war enters its third year. A recent push by Kremlin forces in eastern and northeastern Ukraine has resulted in only incremental gains.
Russian air defense systems overnight destroyed eight drones over the Belgorod region and the Black Sea, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Additionally, Russian air defense shot down two long-range ballistic ATACMS missiles over the Kherson region, heading for Russia-annexed Crimea, said Russia-installed Kherson governor Vladimir Saldo.
In Russia’s Belgorod region, nine people were wounded in shelling in Shebekino, a town bordering Ukraine, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported Sunday morning.
