On August 3, 2025, Russia reported intercepting up to 112 Ukrainian drones during a series of intense exchanges with Ukraine that saw reciprocal strikes escalate across the region. Ukrainian drones targeted key Russian assets, including an oil depot near Sochi, sparking a massive fire that required over 120 firefighters and temporarily shut down Sochi’s airport. Further drone attacks hit military and industrial sites in Ryazan, Penza, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, leaving at least three civilians dead. In retaliation, Russia launched missile attacks on southern Ukrainian cities like Mykolaiv, injuring seven civilians. The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, continued to mourn after a Russian missile and drone assault earlier in the week killed 31 people, five of whom were children. As both sides exchange strikes, international attention intensifies, with the United States issuing an August 8 deadline for progress on peace talks and Ukraine appealing for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s increasing attacks. The situation remains highly volatile with significant civilian casualties and critical infrastructure damage on both sides.