Ukraine and Russia: Seven killed in escalating strikes on civilian areas

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen an intensification of strikes, leading to civilian deaths and injuries on both sides. In Ukraine, a missile strike on a residential building in the Black Sea port city of Odesa killed two people and injured eight others. Among the deceased was a woman walking in a park with children at the time of the attack; the children survived and are receiving care.

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Among the dead is a woman who was walking in the park with children at the time of the attack. The children survived and are receiving the necessary help.

Emergency services reported that the bombardment damaged residential buildings, a religious institution, a preschool, and vehicles. Further south, in the frontline city of Kherson, a 70-year-old woman was killed and five elderly individuals were injured during Russian attacks. In the Mykolaiv port city, two people died on a civilian ship flying a foreign flag, and two other ships flying foreign flags were damaged.

Russia denies targeting civilians, stating its forces attacked military-related infrastructure in southern Ukraine. Moscow has recently increased its air raids on Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Meanwhile, in Russia's Belgorod region, near the Ukrainian border, a man was killed when a drone struck his car. Another person died in Horlivka, a Russian-controlled city in eastern Ukraine, due to a Ukrainian attack, according to Moscow-appointed officials.

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Russia denies targeting civilians and stated that it attacked military-related infrastructure in southern Ukraine.

These escalating attacks come after a period where U.S.-mediated peace talks have largely stalled, with Washington's focus shifting elsewhere. The United Nations reported that June was the bloodiest month for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022, with at least 293 deaths.

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June was the bloodiest month for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022, with at least 293 people killed.