KYIV, Ukraine - The escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen both countries engage in mass drone attacks on each other's territories for the second consecutive day. Reports indicate that a Russian military airport was targeted during the attacks.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry's post on the messaging app Telegram, at least 35 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across three regions in southwestern Russia. The Russian Telegram channel critical of the Kremlin shared videos allegedly showing drones flying over low-rise housing in the town of Morozovsk, which hosts Russia's 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment.

The governor of Russia's Rostov province, Vasily Golubev, reported "mass drone strikes" near Morozovsk and another town farther west. He stated that most of the drones were successfully shot down, resulting in no casualties, but didn't provide information on the extent of any damage caused.

Kyiv has yet to formally acknowledge or claim responsibility for the drone attacks. However, an anonymous source in the security services cited by major Ukrainian newspaper Ukrainska Pravda claimed that Ukraine's army and intelligence services had struck the Morozovsk air base, causing "significant damage" to military equipment.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force announced that it had shot down 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones, as well as an X-59 cruise missile launched from Russian-occupied southern and western Ukraine. Tragically, a civilian lost their life near Odesa due to a destroyed drone falling on their house.

As tensions continue to rise, both Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in fierce exchanges outside the Russian village of Terebreno, close to the Ukrainian border. Telegram posts by Gov. Vasily Gladkov confirmed the fighting but did not provide further details, insisting that Russian authorities had the situation "under control." Reports suggested that clashes forced residents of Terebreno, with a population of around 200, to seek refuge in shelters.

Amidst the escalating conflict, a 69-year-old woman was reported killed in a Ukrainian border village in the northern Sumy region, approximately 15 miles west of Terebreno. Ukrainian authorities are investigating whether her death is linked to the reported clashes.

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, expressed optimism regarding Germany's evolving approach towards Ukraine's European Union (EU) membership bid. In an interview with Germany's Bild newspaper, Kuleba praised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's role in the EU's recent decision to open membership talks for Kyiv. Scholz's efforts to overcome opposition from Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were hailed as a positive step towards Ukraine's EU aspirations.

While the EU's decision to advance membership negotiations has provided a boost for Kyiv, NATO leaders have not outlined a clear timeline for Ukraine's membership bid. The ongoing conflict and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have prompted Finland's acceptance into the military alliance in April. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to build up military units near the Russian-Finnish border, expressing concerns over Helsinki's NATO accession.

The intensifying drone attacks and military exchanges signify a dangerous escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as both sides seek to gain an advantage. The situation calls for international attention and concerted efforts to de-escalate tensions and seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.