Russia experiences a 'massive' drone attack from Ukraine on military and government targets.

On Friday, Ukraine intensified its efforts to escalate the war onto Russian soil as clashes persist in Russia's Kursk region, while "massive" drone attacks were also launched against military and government targets in at least four other western regions.

On Friday, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russia's Lipetsk region, located north of Kursk, resulting in the reported hits on an ammunition depot and warehouse.

According to Planet Chronicle Digital, East2West media sources reported that approximately 700 Russian guided bombs were destroyed in the strike.

Igor Artamonov, the local governor, stated that power supplies were disrupted following an attack on an energy facility, as reported first by Politico EU.

In addition to the reported strike, a military airfield was also reportedly on fire in the region, with some 19 drones allegedly being intercepted.

According to local Ukrainian reporting, it is unclear how many drones were fired across the Lipetsk region, and further reporting showed that another 26 drones had been downed in the Belogrod region, located north of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and positioned just east of Kursk.

Overnight, Russia's defense ministry reported that 75 drones were shot down in various regions along Ukraine's border with Russia, and an additional five were allegedly shot down over Russian-occupied Crimea in Ukraine's south.

On Friday, multiple reports confirmed that Moscow declared a "federal-level" state of emergency in Kursk, and the Ministry of Defense admitted that Ukrainian forces were approaching the strategic town of Sudzha after open-source reporting revealed that Ukrainian forces had already seized a critical military checkpoint and the Sudzha gas-distribution station.

On Friday, a video released by pro-Russia military bloggers depicted the aftermath of an ambush on a Russian convoy by Ukrainian forces the previous night. The footage, which was graphic in nature, showed charred vehicles and some filled with the remains of deceased Russian soldiers.

The purpose of Ukraine's attacks on Russian targets in five regions is unclear, but sources suggest that Kyiv may be attempting to distract Russian forces from the front lines by targeting Putin's homeland.

Moscow's military objectives in Ukraine's eastern region have led to a predicted weakening of Russia's defenses within its own borders.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, has maintained his silence on the Russian assault, in line with Kyiv's policy of remaining silent during ongoing operations. However, in a Thursday night address, he stated, "Russia brought war to our land, and it should feel the consequences of its actions."

The Biden administration abandoned its opposition to using U.S. weapons to target Russian forces outside of Ukraine.

In May, it was reported that the White House silently approved Ukraine's defense against Russian missile attacks by allowing it to strike military targets near the border with Kharkiv.

According to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, the approval was granted for any strategic target beyond Ukraine's shared border with Russia, as long as it was not deep within Russian territory.

"As the battlefield dynamics have shifted, Ukraine has been able to push the Russians back further into Russian territory," she said. "As attacks come across the border, Ukraine must have the capabilities to respond. This is why you're seeing cross-border counter-fire measures."

She remained silent when asked about the restrictions on Ukraine's "cross-border" attacks.

"She informed reporters that long-range attacks into Russia are not supported and she would not provide a specific range."

She clarified that she wouldn't create a circular map of the areas where strikes could and couldn't occur, but she emphasized that they had been explicit with the Ukrainians.