Inferno in Rostov, Russia's military center is no longer safe

A Ukrainian UAV has caused a fire, forced residents to evacuate and damaged many buildings in the center of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

On August 27, 2025, a Ukrainian drone attack in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don caused a massive fire that forced dozens of residents to evacuate. The incident is considered one of the most serious attacks on a major Russian urban center in recent weeks.

Rostov acting governor Yuri Slyusar said debris from the downed drone fell on an apartment building, setting the roof on fire and forcing 15 residents to flee. “The most important thing is that no one was injured,” he stressed on Telegram, adding that the fire was brought under control in time.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its air defense systems shot down a total of 26 Ukrainian drones overnight, 15 of which were intercepted over the Rostov region. The debris then fell on several residential areas, damaging the roofs and facades of at least seven buildings.

Rostov-on-Don is a large city with over 1 million inhabitants and is an important administrative and military center of southern Russia. It is also the headquarters of the Southern Military District Command - one of the headquarters of the military campaign in Ukraine.

In recent months, Kiev has increased the frequency of drone attacks on targets inside Russia, including Moscow, Kursk, Belgorod and numerous energy facilities. Ukraine argues that this is a “legitimate self-defense” measure in response to Russia’s continued bombing of its power grid, industrial and urban infrastructure.

Russia has accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilian areas and said it would increase its air defenses to protect civilians. However, international observers say the line between military and civilian targets in the conflict is becoming increasingly blurred.

One notable factor is that Rostov is located more than 100 km from the Ukrainian border, which shows the increasing range of Ukrainian UAVs. According to analysts, Kiev is combining both cheap domestically produced UAVs and long-range models improved from Western technology, creating an “asymmetrical blow” to the Russian rear, where Moscow least expects it.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government has not made any official comment on the attack. Kiev rarely directly admits responsibility, but officials have repeatedly said the main targets were military and energy infrastructure, not civilians.

Many experts believe that the attack in Rostov could prompt Russia to tighten security and increase its retaliation. Moscow is likely to launch more airstrikes on Ukraine’s vital infrastructure, pushing the war into a tit-for-tat spiral that is difficult to control, especially as winter approaches, when electricity and heating systems are likely to become the most important targets.

For the people of Rostov, the fire was a bitter reminder that the conflict had come to their doorstep. Although the city was far from the front, its role as a logistics hub made it an increasingly vulnerable target.

International organizations continue to call on both sides to exercise restraint and avoid attacks on civilian areas. However, the reality on the battlefield shows that both Russia and Ukraine prioritize their immediate strategic interests, increasing the risk of civilian casualties.

As the conflict enters its fourth year, the drone attack on Rostov shows that the conflict is no longer limited to the front lines. Large Russian cities, once considered “safe zones,” have become targets. It is a clear signal that the war is escalating and prolonging, with unpredictable consequences for the entire region.

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