Ukrainian missile strikes kill 6 in Russia’s Belgorod

On Monday, Ukrainian missile strikes killed six people and injured four more, including a child, in Russia's Belgorod region, according to the acting governor. The strikes targeted an industrial park near Podolsk, with the attack burning down a structure and damaging a vehicle. The attack occurred in the village of Koloskovo, situated about 15km from the Ukrainian border. This marks a significant increase in the number of civilian casualties for both sides, with the highest levels since the war's early stages in 2022.

The escalation in missile attacks has come as frontline fighting has stalled and diplomatic talks have ceased. Russia has been launching near-daily missile and drone strikes into Ukraine since initiating its full-scale invasion in 2022. Due to the US-Israeli conflict diverting supplies, Russia has intensified its use of hard-to-defend ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has been focusing its attacks on Wildberries warehouses, accusing the retailer of supplying components for Russian drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky claims these strikes and assaults on oil refineries are intended to weaken Russia's war economy.

In July, 437 Ukrainian civilians were killed, the highest monthly toll since May 2022, according to a United Nations report. Russian authorities reported 79 civilians killed in their country during the same month, a rise from the previous month.