Ukrainian Drone Attack Causes Fire and Evacuation in Rostov, Says Regional Governor

AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS

Debris from a destroyed Ukrainian drone caused a fire on the roof of a residential building in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, prompting the evacuation of 15 residents, the acting governor of the Rostov region, Yuri Slyusar, said today.

"The most important thing is that no one was injured," Slyusar wrote on the Telegram app, adding that the fire was localized.

Russian air defense units destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 15 over the Rostov region, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Telegram.

The ministry reports the number of drones destroyed but not how many were launched by Ukraine.

Slyusar said the drones were shot down in seven different districts, and that falling debris damaged the roofs and facades of multiple residential buildings.

State news agency TASS reported that at least seven residential buildings were damaged following drone attacks in central Rostov-on-Don.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv, which has intensified strikes inside Russia in recent months, says its attacks are in response to Moscow's continued strikes on Ukraine.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia began with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.