Russia said on Monday that its forces had intercepted Ukrainian rockets and missiles, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported pounding Russian military targets.
The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defense system intercepted four HIMARS rockets and three Neptune missiles over the past 24 hours.
The Russian army struck Ukrainian aviation repair enterprises and several temporary Ukrainian military bases, and took control of the Shandriglovo settlement in Donetsk region, the ministry said.
The Russian air defense forces intercepted and shot down 78 Ukrainian drones in regions of Bryansk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Moscow and Kursk from Sunday night to early Monday, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said Russian air defense forces had shot down four drones in the region from Sunday night to early Monday.
A fire sparked by a Ukrainian drone strike killed a child and his grandmother in a town outside Moscow, the regional authorities said on Monday.
Also on Monday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 136 combat clashes between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russian troops over the past 24 hours.
The armed forces launched attacks on the Russian army in Kupyansk and other places, the Ukrainian side said.
The Ukrainian army also claimed to have attacked targets including Russian military equipment concentration areas and drone control points, it said.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that from 20:00 on Sunday to 09:00 on Monday, the Russian army launched 32 drones of various types from Kursk Oblast and other directions.
The Ukrainian air defense forces shot down and suppressed 23 drones in northern and eastern Ukraine and recorded nine drones hitting targets at eight locations.
Russia intercepts Ukrainian rockets, missiles, Ukraine pounds Russian military targets
The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.
Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.
The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.
"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.
The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.
Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.
"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.
Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near
