Large-scale drone attacks hit Russia and occupied territories

Over the weekend of August 2-3, 2026, Russia experienced a significant wave of drone strikes across its territory and occupied areas. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 635 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems. Regional officials confirmed that these attacks targeted various infrastructure hubs, including a major warehouse facility owned by the e-commerce giant Wildberries in the Novosemeykino region, which suffered a massive fire.

At least eight fatalities were reported following the overnight strikes on August 2. Additionally, in the border region of Belgorod, a separate drone attack on August 3 occurred near a playground in the village of Printsevka, resulting in the death of a 13-year-old girl and injuries to two other children aged seven and nine. Russian officials, including the governor of the Saratov region and child rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, condemned the incidents as barbaric terrorist attacks.

This escalation follows ongoing strikes by both sides, with Ukraine recently targeting Russian fuel storage, refineries, and logistics centers. There has been no formal response from Kyiv regarding these specific incidents, and emergency services continue to manage the aftermath in the affected areas.