Ukraine, Russia accuse each other of lethal attacks

Shifting our focus now, Ukraine has just struck deep inside Russia with one of its deadliest drone attacks of the war. The target was more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Russian officials say that 13 people, including a child, have been killed in this Ukrainian drone attack. Now Kiev is bracing for the response, with Russia still expanding its missile campaign and Ukraine running dangerously short of the interceptors that are needed to stop it. The blast was far from the battlefield. The target was deep inside Russia. Russia has been jolted by a massive deadly drone attack on Nishikamsk in Tatarstan region. Ukraine says it targeted the Taneko oil refinery where fires are seen. Nishikamsk is a major industrial hub and the refinery is more than a thousand kilometers from Ukraine's border. That distance matters as it shows how Russia is failing to stop an incoming missile or drone which is striking so deep inside its territory. Ukraine has been increasingly taking the war deep inside Russia, using long-range drones to hit oil refineries, fuel infrastructure and other strategic targets. But every deep strike carries a massive risk, retaliation. Russia has repeatedly responded to major Ukrainian attacks with intense missile and drone assaults. And Ukraine is now preparing for another possible escalation. The danger is particularly serious because Ukraine's air defense stocks are under pressure. Kiev has warned of an acute shortage of interceptor missiles, including those needed for advanced systems such as Patriot. Ukrainian officials say deliveries on air defense missiles this year have fallen sharply, while Russia continues to launch large ballistic missile attacks. The vulnerability has already been exposed. During a major Russian bombardment in July, Ukraine admitted that it failed to intercept any of the 23 ballistic missiles launched in one attack. Russia is now showing no sign of slowing down. Moscow continues to expand missile production and maintain a heavy strike campaign against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Recent Russian attacks damaged Ukraine's Odessa's port, adding another layer to the escalating battle over Ukraine's critical infrastructure. So the battlefield is widening again. Ukraine is sending drones deeper into Russia. Russia is responding with missiles and drones across Ukraine, and Kiev knows the next Russian strike could come with little warning. The question now is not whether Moscow will respond. It is how hard. Bureau report. We on Worldist One.