MOSCOW, Aug 14 — Just hours before a highly anticipated US-Russia summit on the war in Ukraine, two Russian cities came under attack from Ukrainian drones, leaving at least 16 people injured and communities shaken.
In Rostov-on-Don, a southern Russian city, the quiet of the night was shattered when a drone slammed into an apartment building. Thirteen people were hurt, with two in serious condition, local officials reported. Residents described scenes of chaos as emergency crews rushed to evacuate families from the damaged building.
Meanwhile, in Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border, three civilians were injured when another drone struck a car in the city center. Video footage shared by regional authorities appeared to capture the moment of impact, showing a sudden explosion and smoke filling the air.
Further south in Russia’s Volgograd region, debris from downed drones ignited a fire at an oil refinery, intensifying concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
Ukraine has not issued an official statement about the strikes.
The attacks come just one day before US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska. The talks are expected to focus on finding a path toward ending the 3½-year conflict — a war that has left deep scars on both nations and their people.
As the summit looms, the human toll of this ongoing war remains painfully evident, with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of geopolitical tensions.
