In a significant operation, Russia claims to have intercepted more than 150 Ukrainian drones, highlighting the escalating tension and sophisticated aerial tactics used by both sides.

At least 158 drones were downed by Russia across 15 regions, including two over Moscow, reportedly thwarting a large-scale air attack from Ukraine.

On Sunday, the Russian defense ministry reported that 46 drones had been shot down in the Kursk region. Recently, Ukraine has sent its forces into this area as part of their largest incursion onto Russian soil since World War II.

According to the ministry, 34 drones were downed in the Bryansk region, 28 were taken out in Voronezh and 14 met their end over Belgorod – all of which share a border with Ukraine. The total count of Russian regions affected by this drone attack was recorded at fifteen.

On Sunday, the Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin announced that an oil refinery caught fire due to debris falling from one of two drones shot down over the city.

In addition, the Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that Ukrainian missile attacks caused injuries to nine individuals in the Russian border area. The regional capital of Belgorod had eight of those casualties.

Following the Ukrainian drone onslaught, Russian troops launched a fresh series of assaults on Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis- several hours later on Sunday.

On Sunday, Kharkiv was struck by no less than 10 Russian missiles in various locations including a shopping mall leaving at least 44 individuals injured, among them five kids according to Ukrainian authorities.

After the mall and events hall were hit by missiles, injured civilians were transported to ambulances in the city with assistance from rescue workers and volunteers.

The ground was covered with shattered glass and debris while people sought refuge in a metro station for their safety.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Facebook that Ukrainians have the right to use any means necessary in responding to Russian terror, which is completely justified.

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Ukraine has intensified their air attacks on Russian territory, specifically aimed at refineries and oil terminals in an attempt to impede the Kremlin’s offensive since the start of this year.

The Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center’s Solomiya Khoma suggested that Kyiv has been launching more attacks on Russian territory lately due to their usage of unmanned aerial equipment since the start of this year.

She stated from Kyiv to Al Jazeera that Ukraine would persist in utilizing its own resources as well as all of its missiles and drones to accomplish this.

“We can expect a surge in strikes on Russian territories until the end of this year,” she stated. She further commented that these strikes have been effective and are having an impact on Russia’s abilities.

On Sunday, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that they had seized management of Pivnichne and Vyimka towns in Ukraine’s Donetsk region amid ongoing military clashes between both parties.

Independent verification of the claim was not possible.

At a crucial point in the ongoing two-and-a-half-year-long conflict, Russia is ramping up its offensive in eastern Ukraine and attempting to eject Ukrainian forces that crossed into its territory through an unexpected incursion on August 6th. This has resulted in increased intensity during fighting between both sides.

In the previous week, Russia unleashed its most intense aerial attacks on Ukraine yet, targeting energy infrastructure as part of a sustained assault using missiles and drones that has resulted in thousands of fatalities among both civilians and military personnel since hostilities commenced in February 2022.

Ukraine has been urging the United States and other allies to grant permission for utilizing advanced weapons supplied by the West, with an aim to cause more significant harm within Russia while limiting Moscow’s ability to launch attacks on Ukraine.