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Russian Drone Barrage Kills 2 In Ukraine As Kyiv Says It Hit Russian Arms Plant

The aftermath of a Russian strike on Ukraine's Sumy region Ukraine on the night of June 26-27.
The aftermath of a Russian strike on Ukraine's Sumy region Ukraine on the night of June 26-27.

Russian strikes killed two people and wounded at least 24 others across Ukraine overnight, authorities said on June 27, as Kyiv launched long-range retaliatory strikes on military targets inside Russia in a night of cross-border attacks.

A 66-year-old man was killed in the northeastern Sumy region when a Russian drone struck a house, while another person died in the Dnipropetrovsk region after Russian forces attacked the area with drones and guided bombs, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said 13 people were wounded in another attack on the Sumy region, while nine more were injured in strikes on the southeastern Zaporizhzhya region. Four children were among the injured.

"The enemy attack caused extensive destruction to the city's civilian infrastructure," the service said. "Specifically, a residential high-rise building was partially destroyed. Emergency workers rescued two people from under the rubble."

Ukraine's Air Force said Russian forces launched 129 drones overnight from several directions, including Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Oryol, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as occupied Crimea and occupied Donetsk.

Ukraine said its air defenses shot down or suppressed 113 drones. Officials said 13 attack drones hit targets at seven locations, while debris from intercepted drones fell at three others.

As Russia carried out the barrage, Ukraine said it launched a long-range strike on a Russian military-industrial facility in Volgograd.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian FP-5 “Flamingo” missiles "successfully struck the Titan-Barrikady enterprise in Volgograd," describing it as "a large industrial complex where the enemy manufactures artillery systems and specialized military equipment, including elements of missile launchers used to strike our people."

Writing in a Telegram post on June 27, Zelenskyy said "a fire on the territory of the plant was recorded" and thanked Ukraine's defense forces "for their precision."

The Titan-Barrikady facility, in Volgograd’s Krasnooktyabrsky District, is associated with the production of artillery systems, specialized military equipment, and components for missile launch systems.

Videos circulating online appeared to show explosions and smoke rising above the plant after the reported strike.

Volgograd Governor Andrey Bocharov confirmed that Ukrainian “high-speed" aerial projectiles had struck the city and damaged production facilities at an enterprise in the Krasnooktyabrsky District. He said 10 people were injured. He did not identify the facility, but Titan-Barrikady is located in the district.

Regional officials later said Ukrainian strikes killed one person in the Volgograd region, another in the Belgorod region, and a woman in the Russian-controlled city of Horlivka in occupied Donetsk region.

Authorities in the Rostov region said a drone strike wounded 11 people after hitting a military museum.

Crimea State Of Emergency

The overnight exchanges came amid escalating tensions in occupied Crimea, where Russian-installed authorities declared a state of emergency on June 26 following continued Ukrainian attacks on the peninsula.

Smoke And Barriers: The Massive Anti-Drone Defenses Of The Crimea Bridge

This archival photo, taken from a viewpoint above the city of Kerch, shows the Crimea Bridge (aka the Kerch Bridge) as it appeared in December 2019.<br>
1/10 This archival photo, taken from a viewpoint above the city of Kerch, shows the Crimea Bridge (aka the Kerch Bridge) as it appeared in December 2019.
Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
Today the bridge, viewed as a major war target for Kyiv, is flanked by multiple barriers against marine drones. The bridge <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/aug/12/crimea-bridge-shrouded-in-white-smoke-after-ukraine-fires-missiles-video" class="wsw__a">is <strong>also equipped with devices</strong></a> apparently intended to hamper aerial threats.
2/10 Today the bridge, viewed as a major war target for Kyiv, is flanked by multiple barriers against marine drones. The bridge is also equipped with devices apparently intended to hamper aerial threats.
Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
The bride's anti-drone measures were captured in satellite photos on June 22 amid a Ukrainian drone strike on nearby facilities in Crimea.<br><br>This satellite image shows smoke screens being deployed at several points on the bridge that day, as well as a chain of barges (center) in front of the bridge’s navigation span.
3/10 The bride's anti-drone measures were captured in satellite photos on June 22 amid a Ukrainian drone strike on nearby facilities in Crimea.

This satellite image shows smoke screens being deployed at several points on the bridge that day, as well as a chain of barges (center) in front of the bridge’s navigation span.
Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
The barges appear to be intended to funnel vessels approaching from the Black Sea into a narrow passageway that can be monitored by naval patrol boats.
4/10 The barges appear to be intended to funnel vessels approaching from the Black Sea into a narrow passageway that can be monitored by naval patrol boats.
Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
This September 2024 image shows work underway to place barriers in the waters on either side of the bridge.<br><br>Work on the fortifications began after a<a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/crimea-bridge-ukraine-russia-explosion/32506489.html" target="_self" class="wsw__a"><strong> July 2023 attack </strong></a>on the bridge with marine drones, which killed a couple travelling with their daughter and damaged the bridge.<br>
5/10 This September 2024 image shows work underway to place barriers in the waters on either side of the bridge.

Work on the fortifications began after a July 2023 attack on the bridge with marine drones, which killed a couple travelling with their daughter and damaged the bridge.
Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
A June 22 satellite image showing smoke screens activated around the central span of the bridge amid Ukrainian drone attacks on nearby facilities.<br><br>Ukraine has targeted the bridge several times since October 2022, including with underwater explosives.
6/10 A June 22 satellite image showing smoke screens activated around the central span of the bridge amid Ukrainian drone attacks on nearby facilities.

Ukraine has targeted the bridge several times since October 2022, including with underwater explosives.
Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
Smokescreens in operation on June 22 where the Crimea Bridge meets Tuzla Island.<br><br>The smoke, which may be intended to baffle the targeting systems of modern missiles, was first seen used on the bridge in August 2023.<br><br>
7/10 Smokescreens in operation on June 22 where the Crimea Bridge meets Tuzla Island.

The smoke, which may be intended to baffle the targeting systems of modern missiles, was first seen used on the bridge in August 2023.

Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
In this recent satellite image of a barge approaching the Crimea Bridge, multiple barriers can be seen, including floating booms that can be pulled across the bridge's navigation channel.<br><br>
8/10 In this recent satellite image of a barge approaching the Crimea Bridge, multiple barriers can be seen, including floating booms that can be pulled across the bridge's navigation channel.

Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
This October 2022 photo shows the bridge as it appeared before the anti-drone barriers were installed.
9/10 This October 2022 photo shows the bridge as it appeared before the anti-drone barriers were installed.
Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
A person looks toward the Crimea Bridge, where anti-drone barriers are visible, in January 2026.<br><br>In late 2023, Russia was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/24/russia-crimea-tunnel-china/" class="wsw__a"><strong>reportedly</strong></a> in talks with a Chinese construction firm to build an undersea tunnel across the Kerch Strait that would be out of reach of drones and missiles.<br><br>
10/10 A person looks toward the Crimea Bridge, where anti-drone barriers are visible, in January 2026.

In late 2023, Russia was reportedly in talks with a Chinese construction firm to build an undersea tunnel across the Kerch Strait that would be out of reach of drones and missiles.

Since 2023, Moscow has built up an extensive range of fortifications around the Crimea Bridge linking the occupied Ukrainian Peninsula with mainland Russia. Russian authorities have also reportedly mulled replacing the span with an undersea tunnel.
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Crimea’s Russian-appointed leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said the measure was intended to help manage damage-related procedures and compensation claims. The move came amid reports of electricity disruptions, fuel restrictions, and growing pressure on local infrastructure.

Authorities reported continuing power problems in Crimea and Sevastopol, while fuel sales have been restricted. Officials also suspended the intake of children into summer camps for the rest of the summer season, though the tourist season was not formally canceled.

Crimea Is Being Strangled. Russian Authorities Are Struggling. Here’s Why (And How) Ukraine Is Doing It Crimea Is Being Strangled. Russian Authorities Are Struggling. Here’s Why (And How) Ukraine Is Doing It
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Traffic was also disrupted on the Crimea Bridge after Russian authorities halted movement for nearly six hours following a reported Ukrainian drone attack. Long lines formed at checkpoints, with thousands of vehicles waiting to be inspected and delays reportedly lasting several hours.

POW Swap

Amid the hostilities, Russia and Ukraine completed another prisoner exchange on June 26, with 160 prisoners of war returned by each side. The swap, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, remains one of the few areas where coordination between Moscow and Kyiv continues.

Zelenskyy confirmed that 160 Ukrainian service members had returned from Russian captivity. He said almost all had been held since 2022 and included defenders of Mariupol and the Azovstal steel plant.

Zelenskyy said more than 9,500 people have been returned since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, including 1,596 Ukrainians in 2026.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russia lost 1,350 troops over the previous 24 hours, along with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, drones, missiles, and other equipment.

Russia does not regularly publish comparable battlefield figures, and claims from either side cannot be independently verified.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters and The Moscow Times
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