Cover image: Thick plumes of smoke with flames rise from an oil refinery in Moscow, Russia, June 18, 2026 in this screengrab taken from a social media video. © Social media via Reuters

Ukraine's attacks forcing 'Russians to realise the war is really happening'

· France 24

Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks inside Russia in recent weeks, targeting energy infrastructure and military targets. Russian officials have reported repeated strikes in border regions, while Moscow has said its air defences had intercepted hundreds of drones from Ukraine in recent days. This comes as a new study shows that Russia is bearing the brunt of military losses, with a Russia/Ukraine casualty rate of 8 to 1 in 2026. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more on what to know.