A combined drone and missile attack has struck Russia’s southern Rostov region, killing one person and leaving four others critically injured, local authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The incident occurred in the port city of Taganrog, where emergency responders were deployed to the scene following the explosions. Regional governor Yuri Slyusar disclosed the development via his official Telegram channel, describing the situation as severe.
“One person has been confirmed dead, while four others sustained serious injuries and are currently in critical condition,” Slyusar said.
According to him, the attack involved both aerial drones and a missile strike.
He noted that the missile hit a commercial facility within the city, causing significant damage, while falling debris from intercepted drones affected other areas.
In a related development, a cargo vessel sailing under a foreign flag in the Sea of Azov was also impacted.
Authorities said debris from one of the drones sparked a fire onboard the ship, though details about casualties or the extent of damage to the vessel remain unclear.
Slyusar added that Russia’s air defence systems were activated during the incident and successfully intercepted several drones over Taganrog Bay and surrounding districts.
“Our air defence units responded promptly, destroying multiple aerial targets over the bay and nearby territories,” he stated.
While the governor did not directly attribute responsibility for the attack, such incidents have become increasingly frequent amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have, in recent months, carried out cross-border strikes targeting Russian infrastructure, often describing them as retaliatory actions against sustained Russian offensives.
The latest attack comes just a day after reported Russian strikes in Ukraine resulted in multiple fatalities, underscoring the continued escalation of hostilities between both sides since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Emergency services in the affected region remain on high alert as investigations continue and authorities assess the full impact of the attack.
