3 Killed as Wave of Ukrainian Drones Strikes Southern Russia and Crimea

July 23, 2026 Smoke clouds rising in the skies above the Ulyanovsk region following a Ukrainian drone attack on July 23, 2026. @exilenova_plus / Telegram Three people, including a three-year-old child, were killed in separate overnight Ukrainian attacks targeting the southern Russian city of Voronezh and annexed Crimea, local authorities said Thursday. In Voronezh, located around 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Moscow, falling drone debris triggered a fire at a residence that killed a three-year-old boy, regional Governor Alexander Gusev said. A 19-year-old man suffered minor injuries in the strike, which also damaged several buildings and the roof of an online marketplace warehouse. Further south, the Kremlin-installed head of annexed Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said one person was killed and four others were injured following a drone strike on the peninsula. He later said a second person was killed. Meanwhile, east of Moscow, Ukrainian drones targeted an energy facility in the Ulyanovsk region, setting it on fire, the local governor said. Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted 223 Ukrainian drones in Russia and annexed Crimea between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Drones , Ukraine war , Voronezh , Crimea Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukrainian Drone Attack Kills 2 in Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin said two others were hospitalized with injuries, though he did not specify where or when the attack took place. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drone Strike Sets Fire at Crimean Oil Depot for Second Time in a Week Local authorities said air defense systems downed more than 20 drones as they attacked a fuel base in the port city of Feodosia. 2 Min read Russia Says Repelled Large-Scale Ukrainian Drone Attack on Crimea Thirty-three drones "were suppressed by electronic warfare and crashed without reaching their targets," the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. 1 Min read Russian Tanker Hit by Ukrainian Drones: Russian Media A Russian-installed official said several members of the ship's crew were injured by broken glass. 2 Min read