Deadly Russian Attack Strikes Factory in Sumy

A Russian airstrike on Sumy in northern Ukraine killed two women and injured 11 people. The factory hit produced packaging for baby food and other products. The strike caused a fire, leading to air pollution warnings. Additional drone and missile attacks were reported in other regions.

A Russian attack overnight damaged a factory in Ukraine's northern city of Sumy, killing two women and injuring at least 11 people, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday.

The Prosecutor General's office confirmed the factory produced packaging for baby food, juices, and household products. One of the injured later died in hospital, and another body was retrieved from the rubble.

The airstrike caused a fire, prompting authorities to advise residents to stay inside and close windows due to air pollution. The Sumy region, bordering Russia's Kursk, has faced continuous assaults. Kyiv's recent Kursk operation aimed to protect settlements. Separately, a drone attack hit an industrial facility in Poltava, central Ukraine, without casualties, according to regional governor Filip Pronin.

The Ukrainian air force reported it shot down 12 of 18 Russia-launched drones overnight across five regions, with four more drones falling over Ukrainian territory. Russia also deployed an Iskander-M missile during the attack. Details of an explosion in Odesa following a ballistic air alert remain scant. Despite Moscow's denials, thousands of civilians have been killed in Russian strikes since the invasion began in February 2022.

(With inputs from agencies.)