Drone Strikes Claim Two Lives at Moldova-Ukraine Border Amid Rising Conflict

Russian drones struck the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova overnight, killing two people and prompting authorities to shut the crossing. Images from the scene show burnt‑out cars and scattered debris.

In Kyiv, a nine‑storey residential building was hit by a drone, killing a woman and injuring fourteen people, including two children. Across the Black Sea, the port of Novorossiysk suffered four deaths, two children, and widespread damage to homes, a church, and a preschool.

In the Arctic, a drone struck an industrial facility in Novy Urengoy, causing a fire but no injuries. Russian officials reported shooting down 596 Ukrainian drones during the same period.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged international support, demanding that aggression be halted to prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin has discussed peace talks with former US President Donald Trump, though no concrete timetable has been set.

Signals of international diplomatic effort come as Moldova’s Prime Minister Vasile Tofan highlights increased drone raids, noting that 17 drones struck Moldovan territory in August, exceeding last year’s total.