Russia, Ukraine report 7 dead, dozens injured in overnight strikes

Key Points:

• Russia and Ukraine exchanged missile and drone strikes overnight, resulting in civilian casualties and injuries on both sides, with significant damage reported in Ukrainian cities Kharkiv and Odesa, as well as Russia’s Belgorod region.
• Ukraine continues to face a critical shortage of U.S.-made Patriot missile interceptors, which are vital for defending against Russian ballistic missile attacks, prompting President Zelenskyy to seek additional supplies and alternative defense measures.
• Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russian energy infrastructure and commercial sites deep inside Russia, including the largest online retailer Wildberries, contributing to a fuel crisis in Russia.
• Russian authorities reported shooting down 153 Ukrainian drones overnight and claimed damage to Ukrainian military supplies in Kharkiv and Odesa, while Ukrainian strikes caused damage to residential and commercial buildings in Russia’s Belgorod and Novorossiysk regions.
• Incidents involving drones were also reported in neighboring countries Moldova and Bulgaria, with a drone explosion near Moldova’s Ukraine border causing a fire but no injuries, and Bulgaria summoning Ukraine’s ambassador after a drone entered its airspace and exploded near a gas pipeline, likely by accident.