In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks on the final day of Russia's presidential vote, aiming to disrupt the election proceedings. The attacks, which took place on Sunday, coincided with Russians casting their ballots to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule for another six years.

The Russian Defence Ministry has reported downing a total of 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, with four of them in the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also confirmed that a fifth drone near the capital's Domodedovo airport was downed on Sunday morning. No casualties or damage resulting from the drone attacks have been reported so far.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry revealed that two drones were shot down over the Kaluga region, south of Moscow, and the Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow. Notably, the attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is approximately 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, represented some of the farthest launched by Ukraine to date.

Further drone incursions were thwarted over the Belgorod, Kursk, and Rostov regions, all bordering Ukraine, as well as the southern Krasnodar region. Tragically, in the Belgorod region, the Ukrainian shelling resulted in the death of a 16-year-old girl on Sunday and left her father injured.

In the Krasnodar region, a drone fell on a refinery and caused a blaze, which was eventually extinguished. Regrettably, a worker at the refinery lost his life due to a heart attack. Refineries and oil terminals have increasingly become targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks.

These recent attacks followed a series of other Ukrainian drone raids and assorted assaults in the lead-up to Russia's presidential election. President Putin, addressing his Security Council on Friday, condemned these acts and vowed that they would not be left unpunished. He expressed confidence in the resilience of the Russian people, stating that they would respond with greater cohesion.

Moreover, the Ukrainian military reported shooting down 14 Russian drones over the Odesa region on Sunday. This attack came in the wake of a Russian ballistic missile assault on the southern port city, resulting in widespread destruction and claiming the lives of at least 21 people. Shockingly, a second missile targeted and struck first responders at the scene.

The Ukrainian airforce confirmed that Russian forces launched five S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles towards Ukrainian-controlled areas in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. Additionally, two X-59 guided missiles were launched in the Chernihiv region. These actions reflect the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides resorting to increasingly aggressive tactics.

The war, now in its third year, has seen Russian forces making incremental gains along the front line, leveraging their superior firepower. In response, Ukraine has retaliated with a significant increase in drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, as well as cross-border raids.

Yesterday, two individuals were killed and three others sustained injuries in Ukrainian shelling on the Russian border city of Belgorod, which has frequently come under attack. The Russian military also claimed to have thwarted another attempted cross-border incursion by Ukrainian "sabotage and reconnaissance groups."

Adding to the complexity of the situation, a video released on social media by the Russian Volunteer Corps on Saturday alleged that they had captured 25 Russian soldiers. However, the authenticity of this claim has not been independently verified.

It is important to note that cross-border attacks in this region have been sporadic since the war began, and have often been mired in claims, counterclaims, disinformation, and propaganda.

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia escalates, it remains to be seen how these recent developments and ongoing hostilities will impact the region and international relations.