Yasmin Bilal
A drone strike on the Russian city of Syzran in the Samara region has left two people dead, including a woman and a child, according to regional officials.
Samara region governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said the overnight incident resulted in damage to residential infrastructure, with parts of an apartment block collapsing after being hit. He confirmed that emergency services were dispatched immediately following the attack.
Authorities said rescue teams worked through the night and into the morning at the affected site, where rubble was cleared as search operations continued. Several residents were injured in the incident and were transported to the hospital for treatment.
Officials further reported that at least two apartment buildings sustained damage, with one suffering extensive structural destruction.
Local authorities said arrangements were being made to provide temporary shelter and support for those displaced by the blast, while assessments of the full extent of the damage were still under way.
Syzran is situated along the Volga River in the Samara region and is known for its industrial base, including a major oil refinery. The city lies several hundred kilometres from the border with Ukraine.
There has been no immediate response from Ukrainian authorities regarding the incident.
Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently denied targeting civilians during the war that began in 2022. However, both sides have regularly accused each other of conducting long-range strikes on infrastructure and urban areas.
Drone attacks have increasingly been reported in regions deeper inside Russia in recent months, often affecting residential neighbourhoods and critical infrastructure. At the same time, Russian forces have continued launching aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities, with the conflict seeing an escalation in long-range operations and no clear indication of a near-term ceasefire.