Hospital hit during Ukrainian drone attack deep inside Russia
A hospital in the central Russian city of Engels has sustained damage in the largest ever Ukrainian drone raid on the area, local officials have reported. The nearby regional capital, Saratov, was also targeted.
Governor Roman Busargin posted images on his Telegram account on Thursday morning, showing the hospital with shattered windows. A woman was reported injured in the attack. Besides broken glass, an oxygen pipeline was ruptured.
'For the time being, incoming emergency patients are being redirected to other facilities,' the governor stated. He emphasized that the incident 'will not affect the quality of medical care provided at the hospital.'
Engels and Saratov lie more than 600km from Kiev-controlled territories on opposite banks of the Volga River. A military airfield is situated on the southeastern outskirts of Engels.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 54 Ukrainian drones overnight in Saratov Region, as well as 40 over Voronezh Region and 22 over Belgorod Region. Smaller numbers were intercepted in various other regions, though overall 132 drones were brought down by air defenses, Moscow has reported.
The latest Ukrainian assault comes amid negotiations for a partial ceasefire aimed at suspending long-range strikes on energy infrastructure by both sides. Advocated by US President Donald Trump, the measure seeks to facilitate peace talks and establish a comprehensive truce.
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