Four people, including a child, were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian western coastal city of Novorossiysk, Krasnodar region governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Wednesday.
Another 29 people were wounded in the assault on the city, which is a frequent target of Ukrainian strikes and a major outlet for Russian oil, oil products and grain exports.
Novorossiysk mayor Andrei Kravchenko said earlier on Wednesday that drone debris fell on the premises of several businesses and close to an inhabited building.
Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence said separately on Wednesday that its forces had shot down 596 Ukrainian drones overnight, as both Moscow and Kiev continued attacks despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Ukraine also suffered losses overnight, as two people were killed and three others wounded after a Russian drone struck the Starokozache international checkpoint on the border with Moldova, according to the regional governor.
"Tonight, enemy drones attacked the Starokozache international road checkpoint on the border with Moldova," Odessa regional governor Oleg Kiper wrote on social media, adding that preliminary information indicated two deaths and three injuries among civilians near the checkpoint.
The attack forced the checkpoint to close, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service confirmed on Wednesday.
Trump-Putin phone call
The strikes came just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone call to discuss efforts to settle the conflict.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin had assured Trump that Russia had "absolutely no aggressive plans whatsoever towards Europe," and added that the two leaders also discussed the battlefield situation, prisoner exchanges and other humanitarian issues between Russia and Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on his part, said that Washington's position included recognition of "realities on the ground" and opposition to Ukraine joining NATO.
Speaking in an interview with Channel One, Lavrov said these principles formed the basis of discussions during recent contacts between Russian and US representatives, including a meeting between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
“He (Trump) said, first of all, that they should even forget about trying to bring Ukraine into the North Atlantic Alliance,” Lavrov said, adding that Trump had described the issue as “settled.”
Europe’s defence support
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Norway for talks focused on strengthening Ukraine's air defences ahead of winter.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store's office said the talks would centre on military and civilian assistance, as well as Ukraine's immediate needs.
As part of fortifying the fight against Russia, Kiev is seeking around 1,000 missiles for US-designed Patriot air-defence systems, with help from allies and an EU loan, Ukraine's defence minister said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Yevhenii Khmara also said that the majority of the missiles would only be shipped in the coming years and called for more urgent aid.
Compounding the needs, Kiev has also warned of a $27 billion funding shortfall for drone supplies, prompting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to urge allies to increase support.
Germany also called for Ukraine to buy more weapons from German defence companies, while Britain announced a $135.5 million (£100 million) package including Patriot interceptors, artillery rounds and drones in support of Kiev.
