Russia and Ukraine were hit by a series of overnight drone and missile attacks that left two people dead in each country and dozens injured, in one of the most intense exchanges in recent months.

The strikes caused widespread damage and underscored the growing civilian toll of the ongoing war.

In Ukraine, several regions came under heavy assault.

In Dnipropetrovsk, a combined rocket and drone strike killed two people and injured at least five others, according to regional head Serhii Lysak.

A fire broke out at a shopping centre, while a multi-story residential building and other commercial areas in Dnipro city were also damaged.

Sumy officials reported three people injured during similar attacks, while Kharkiv experienced a three-hour barrage that included four guided bombs, two ballistic missiles, and 15 drones.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said residential buildings, roads, businesses and communication lines were damaged. He added that five people were injured, among them three emergency responders hurt in a follow-up strike that appeared to target rescue operations.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched a total of 208 drones and 27 missiles in the large-scale overnight operation. Preliminary figures show that 183 drones and 17 missiles were intercepted using air defenses and electronic systems.

However, at least nine areas were damaged by 10 missiles and 25 drones that broke through.

Across the border, Russia reported drone attacks by Ukraine, with fatalities recorded in the Rostov region near the frontline. Acting Governor Yuri Slyusar confirmed two people died in the strike.

In Stavropol, drones targeted an industrial facility, sparking a fire. Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed the incident and said mobile internet services were briefly shut down, a move critics say is used to limit information flow.

In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said drones aimed at the capital were successfully intercepted. Additional drone attacks were reported in the Penza region, where another industrial site was hit, according to Governor Oleg Melnichenko.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 54 Ukrainian drones in total. This included 24 over Bryansk, 12 over Rostov, six over Crimea, four over the Azov Sea, three over the Black Sea, and several others across Orlov, Tula, and Belgorod.

As a safety measure, Russia’s civil aviation authority temporarily halted flights in and out of airports in Kaluga, Vladikavkaz, and Grozny.

The latest wave of cross-border attacks marks a steep rise in drone and missile warfare, as both countries intensify efforts to pressure each other’s air defense systems, with civilians increasingly caught in the middle.