Local officials: Two people killed, 19 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine

Two people were killed and 19 injured in Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight, local officials said on Monday, as Ukraine sent drones to industrial areas in central Russia, Reuters reported.

In Ukraine, two people were killed and six were injured after Russia hit the southeastern city of Dnipro with missiles, drones and artillery, local authorities said on Telegram. Another 13 injuries were reported in the northern Sumy region and southeastern Zaporizhia region, including three children, authorities added.

Reuters could not independently confirm these reports. Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.

Drones target industrial areas in Russia

Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, doubling the number of oil refineries targeted since the start of the year, according to information posted on social media by Russian officials, as it seeks to deprive Moscow of energy revenues to end a war that has lasted more than four years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with key members of his government and business leaders, is visiting China, a key buyer of Russian energy, on Wednesday.

The Russian Defense Ministry shot down 273 drones over the ground overnight, state news agency TASS reported, citing the ministry.

In Russia, drones attacked industrial areas around Nevinnomyssk in the southern Stavropol region, its governor said on Telegram, adding that no damage had been reported so far but that the attacks were continuing.

The area is home to Nevinnomyssk Azot, a large chemical plant that has previously been the target of drone attacks from Ukraine.

The area around Kstovo, in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, where the Lukoil oil refinery is located, was also under attack by drones, the mayor of Nizhny Novgorod said on Telegram.

Two drones were shot down over Russia's northwestern Leningrad region, home to one of the country's largest refineries and an oil export port, while drone attacks were also reported over Moscow and the Tula region south of the capital, local authorities said on Telegram. The border region of Belgorod was also attacked, where an ambulance driver was injured, authorities said.