Russian state TV journalist Anna Prokofieva was killed, and her cameraman Dmitry Volkov was seriously injured when their vehicle struck a landmine in Russia's Belgorod region, near the Ukrainian border. The incident, reported by Pervy Kanal TV, has heightened concerns over growing cross-border hostilities.

Belgorod has faced frequent Ukrainian drone and shelling attacks, with reports of ground fighting intensifying in neighboring regions. Prokofieva, 35, had been covering the Ukraine war since 2023. Her last Telegram post, where she appeared in military fatigues, included a caption referencing Ukraine as “country 404”, a term used by pro-Kremlin bloggers.

Meanwhile, Russia launched fresh drone attacks on Kharkiv and Dnipro, injuring several civilians and damaging historical sites. The escalation coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Paris, where European leaders convened to discuss Kyiv's defense strategy amid shifting global alliances.