Russia said on Monday that its forces launched strikes on multiple Ukrainian targets with drones, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported repelling numerous Russian attacks along the front line over the past 24 hours.
In an official statement, Russia's Defense Ministry said that from the night of Sunday into the early hours of Monday, Russian forces used drones to strike logistics and communications centers serving the Ukrainian military, as well as port infrastructure and vessels.
The ministry also said Russian forces took control of two settlements in the Sumy and Donetsk regions in the past 24 hours. It added that Russian air defenses had shot down 10 Ukrainian guided aerial bombs and 442 drones.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in a statement that 229 combat engagements had taken place along the front line over the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian forces repelled multiple Russian attacks in the directions of Kupyansk and Pokrovsk, the statement said.
It also added that the Ukrainian air force, missile forces and artillery units had carried out strikes against Russian forces.
Russian drones strike Ukrainian targets, while Ukraine repels attacks
A massive dragon boat race was held in Foshan City in southern China's Guangdong Province on Sunday, with 282 teams competing along a grueling 30-kilometer water course, drawing constant cheers from spectators.
As soon as the whistle sounded, 1,410 athletes battled it out, navigating tight turns and jostling for position to overtake across the wide Jili River, with the flying oars churning up layers of spray.
"Two to three hundred boats set off together on the wide Jili River. Such a scene is truly spectacular," said a Foshan resident.
"A competition of this scale and this level of excitement is usually only held during holidays. We planned early to come from Hong Kong to watch it," said Law Wing-chun, a tourist from Hong Kong.
It set a Guinness World Record for the largest five-person dragon boat endurance marathon. In addition to cities in the Greater Bay Area comprising Hong Kong, Macao, and nine cities in Guangdong Province, it also attracted teams from outside the province, including Shanghai and Hangzhou, for the first time.
"It is a full 30 kilometers. We truly rely on sheer willpower to make it to the finish line. We end up taking ninth place and are absolutely delighted. Thank you to the people of Foshan for the warm welcome," said Chen Xingke, a member of the Hangzhou dragon boat team.
"This year's trip here is definitely worth it. The atmosphere here is something you don't find elsewhere. It is truly fun and exciting to compete alongside so many top-level athletes," said Deng Chengjun, a member of the Shanghai dragon boat team.
The dragon boat race kicked off the local consumption season for the National Day holiday which will begin on Thursday. Foshan will hold more than 350 cultural, tourism and sports events and more than 400 consumption promotion activities to spur diverse consumption formats.
Grand dragon boat race draws big crowds in Foshan
