The southern Zaporizhzhia region has declared a day of mourning following a tragic incident in the town of Vilniansk. Yesterday, a Russian strike left seven people dead and wounded three dozen others.

Local governor Ivan Fedorov announced on social media, “June 30 is a day of mourning in Zaporizhzhia region for those killed in the enemy attack on Vilniansk.”

The interior ministry confirmed that 36 people were wounded in the strike. Among the victims were three children, one woman, and three men.

Footage released by emergency services shows workers clearing debris from an almost destroyed low-rise building. Officials report that the strike hit shops in Vilniansk.

In addition to the tragedy in Vilniansk, eight people were killed in villages in the embattled eastern part of Ukraine within the past 24 hours.

The Ukrainian army reports ongoing Russian attacks toward the city of Toretsk, where an offensive was launched in recent weeks. A battle is currently underway in the nearby frontline village of New York.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have targeted Ukrainian drones near the border. Moscow’s Ministry of Defence stated that air defence systems destroyed 36 Ukrainian UAVs. The breakdown includes 15 UAVs over the Kursk region, 9 over Lipetsk, 4 each over Voronezh and Bryansk, and 2 each over Oryol and Belgorod.

Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev confirmed that there were no casualties or damage from the drone interceptions.

Throughout the conflict, both sides have extensively used drones, including larger self-detonating craft with ranges stretching hundreds of kilometres.

Ukraine has escalated attacks on Russian territory this year, targeting energy sites that it claims fuel Russia’s military, as well as towns and villages near the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently launched a major land offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, citing the need to create a “buffer zone” and push Ukrainian forces back to protect Russia’s border in the Belgorod region from shelling.