Fires break out in Belgorod after Ukrainian drone attack, deaths reported in Kharkiv

Overnight into August 9, the Russian border city of Belgorod came under a large-scale drone attack. Local residents and monitoring channels reported multiple explosions in the city center, along with fires and smoke in residential apartment districts. Witnesses said dozens of drones were over the city at once. The region's acting governor, Alexander Shuvayev, said 13 people, including two children, were injured during the attack and its repulsion, and several buildings were damaged.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine's Kharkiv, Russian strikes early Sunday hit two residential apartment buildings in the Saltivka district. Regional administration head Oleh Syniehubov reported two deaths in a ten-story building, with another person hospitalized with severe injuries. Thirteen people were reported injured. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said floors seven through ten of one building were destroyed, with people still trapped inside as a rescue operation continued.

In Odesa, a Russian missile and drone strike on Sunday morning hit residential areas as well. City administration head Serhii Lysak said six people were injured, with residential buildings damaged and cars burned.

Zelensky warns of stronger retaliation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview that if Russia continues striking Ukrainian logistics, it will face even stronger retaliatory strikes on Russian logistics. He said he was satisfied with the results of a 40-day operation against Russian logistics that he announced on June 25, citing Russian losses reportedly amounting to a trillion rubles. He noted the operation involved Ukraine's armed forces along with other security and intelligence services.

Losses

According to Ukraine's General Staff, Russia's total combat losses from February 24, 2022 through August 9, 2026 stand at roughly 1,457,740 troops, including 1,130 over the past 24 hours. Ukraine also reported Russian losses of 12,253 tanks, 25,103 armored combat vehicles and 47,621 artillery systems. Ukraine does not regularly disclose its own losses.