More than four years into the war, fighting between Russia and Ukraine is reaching new heights.
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TRANSCRIPT
After more than four years of ground assaults and cross-border attacks, Russia and Ukraine are intensifying their aerial campaigns and striking deeper into one another's territory.
Russia is sending increasingly sophisticated drones into Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine's long-range weapons are extending further into Russia.
But as the air war expands, so too do concerns that its consequences will be felt far beyond the battlefield.
NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, says Russia's increasingly aggressive tactics are creating fresh challenges for the alliance.
"Russia has grown increasingly reckless. As they continue their terrible war against Ukraine, we have seen more drones and missiles crossing into our airspace along our eastern flank, creating increased risk. And we have also seen an increase in malign activities targeting our territory directly."
The immediate consequences are still being felt most heavily inside Ukraine.
In Dnipro, two people were killed and at least six wounded in the latest Russian assault, involving 174 drones along with ballistic and air-launched missiles.
Kyiv and Odesa were also targeted.
United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric says the increasing reach of the attacks is taking a growing toll on civilians.
"Over the past two days, attacks across the country have caused significant casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, including in large urban centres such as Kyiv and Odesa, which are farther from the front lines."
But Ukraine is returning fire.
Its long-range drones are increasingly disrupting civilian aviation in Russian skies.
This week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russian airspace is dangerous, due to drones - and says he has new information airlines are beginning to refuse flights to Russian airports.
(Ukrainian to English VO) "This is a correct, completely logical response to the available facts - to everything that exists because of the war that Putin does not want to end. We must protect lives. Ukraine has already officially informed international organizations and partners about the real state of the Russian sky."
He says the campaign is intended to pressure Moscow towards peace negotiations.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Zelenskyy of state terrorism, declaring Moscow does not negotiate with terrorists.
And as the two leaders trade threats, drones and missiles, European governments are warning the conflict is increasingly reaching beyond the countries actually fighting it.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the threat to Europe is becoming more frequent, and more brazen.
“Leipzig attacks had hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. What happened in Leipzig was not an isolated incident. Since 2022, we have seen systematic attacks across Europe. Sabotage, cyberattacks, espionage are becoming more frequent and more brazen."
She is referring to an alleged attempt to attack a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany last month.
German investigators believe a drone loaded with explosives struck the aircraft's wing, but failed to detonate.
Germany now says Russia was behind the attempted attack, citing similarities with other alleged Russian operations.
Moscow denies any involvement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the incident shows civilian infrastructure itself must now be considered potential targets.
"Europeans are faced with the hard truth that this is the new normal. We have to step up. And that means being ready to respond to Russia's recklessness faster and better. We must treat our everyday infrastructure as frontline targets and protect them accordingly. And we will support any member state Russia targets."
The E-U is considering tougher enforcement of sanctions and further restrictions on Russian travellers, while member states have promised more air defence for Ukraine.
But while Europe prepares for the possibility of a longer and potentially wider conflict, Washington is talking about how to end it.
US President Donald Trump says he could arrange another meeting with Vladimir Putin almost immediately, but wants the next summit to take place when there's actually a peace deal to be done.
"Oh, he'd do it if I wanted it, but I want to do it when we're ready to do a peace deal. I want to do it. You know, we want to have good relationship with Russia, Ukraine, with everybody. Be great for business. Russia's got great land and very valuable land. A lot of good things happening, but, no, we could do one. I bet I could do it immediately. I want to do it when that war is ending. And I think we will."
After more than four years of fighting, the distance between the front line and what once felt like safety is becoming harder to define.
As Russia and Ukraine strike deeper into each other's territory, civilians far from the battlefield are increasingly being caught in the war.
Russian authorities say Ukrainian drone attacks in the Belgorod region on Tuesday killed two people and wounded 16.
Two weeks earlier, a Russian strike on Kyiv killed 16 people.
For this Ukrainian woman, the grief is overwhelming.
It's a cry of loss that needs no translation, and one being heard on both sides of a war whose front line may be frozen, but whose reach increasingly is not.
