Ukraine marked its Independence Day with a massive drone assault inside Russia, striking critical infrastructure. Russia’s defence ministry reported intercepting 95 drones across multiple regions on August 24. A strike on the Kursk nuclear plant, 60 km from Ukraine, damaged a transformer and halved reactor No. 3’s capacity, though radiation remained normal. The UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, confirmed the incident and urged nuclear safety protections. In Russia’s Leningrad region, drones targeted the Ust-Luga fuel terminal, sparking a huge blaze. Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed no injuries. Additional drones hit Syzran, injuring a child, underscoring intensifying cross-border strikes.