Ukraine drone attack on Russia's Saratov damages homes, grounds flights

Homes were damaged, and flights were restricted in Russia's Saratov region following a Ukrainian drone attack on Monday, reported Reuters. A woman was seriously injured, said the report, citing Russian officials and news agencies.

The incident occurred when debris from drones destroyed by Russia's air defence systems fell on a residential complex in Saratov. "A woman was hospitalised in serious condition," regional governor Roman Basurgin said on Telegram. "Doctors are fighting for her life."

Russia's defence ministry confirmed that nine drones were intercepted over the Saratov region, located roughly 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Flights at the regional Saratov airport were restricted following the attack, Russian news agency RIA reported.



Emergency services were dispatched to affected sites in Saratov and Engels, key cities in the region southeast of Moscow. Engels is home to a strategic military bomber base, which has been a target of previous Ukrainian attacks since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022. However, no immediate information was available regarding damage at the base.

Videos posted by the SHOT channel on Telegram showed a high-rise building in Saratov with significant damage, including blown-out windows across several floors. In Engels, the top floor of a residential building was also reported damaged.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the details, and there has been no immediate response from Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine have denied targeting civilians, stating that their operations focus on infrastructure vital to the war effort.

(With inputs from Reuters)