Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine kill seven, officials say

Russian strikes on front-line localities in eastern Ukraine killed seven people and injured more than 20 on Monday, officials said.

Prosecutors in Donetsk Region, the focal point of fighting along the 1,200-km (775-mile) front line, said three people had died in two areas near the contested city of Kostiantynivka.

Russia's military said this month its forces had captured Kostiantynivka, but Ukrainian officials deny the city has changed hands.

A fourth person was killed near Kramatorsk, a heavily defended "fortress" city considered critical to Ukraine's defences. Prosecutors said a total of 18 people were injured throughout Donetsk Region.

In adjacent Dnipropetrovsk Region, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said three people were killed and six wounded in more than 50 drone and artillery attacks on five districts.

Two people died near the town of Nikopol, a frequent Russian target on the north bank of the Dnipro River. One person was killed near the town of Syneklykove, further east.

Over the border in Russia's Belgorod Region, a Ukrainian drone struck a commercial building, killing one person and injuring two.

It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the total strength of the Russian armed forces to 2,426,130 personnel, with the decision to take effect from August 1.

According to the decree published in the Russian State Legal Information System, the number of military personnel in the armed forces will reach 1,535,000, while the total number of personnel, including military personnel and civilian employees, will reach 2,426,130.

The decree stipulates increasing the size of the armed forces by approximately 27,000 personnel, including 25,000 military personnel, compared to the current number.

In June 2026, Putin signed a decree raising the total number of armed forces personnel to 2,399,130, including 1,510,000 military personnel.