Attacks launched deep into each other's territory by both Russia and Ukraine have left at least eight people dead, among them a child, in a single day of violence that underscores how the war continues to exact a heavy civilian toll far from the front lines. The strikes, which occurred on Thursday, mark some of the deadliest cross-border exchanges in recent months, even as ground combat along the main battlefront has largely stalled. Main Developments In Ukraine, a Russian attack on a food business in the city of Pavlohrad, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killed three people and wounded at least ten others, according to regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha. The strike sparked a fire at the site. Separately, a 57-year-old man died from a mortar attack in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine, the national broadcaster Suspilne reported, adding that he was struck in his back yard and could not be revived by medical teams. Ukrainian strikes, meanwhile, killed four people and wounded eight in Russia and Moscow-annexed Crimea, local authorities said. A three-year-old boy died when a drone crashed onto his home on the outskirts of Voronezh, about 500 km south of Moscow, igniting a fire, regional Governor Alexander Gusev wrote on Telegram. The boy's parents sustained various injuries, and a young man was wounded in a separate drone attack in the same area. Read also: Why Gaza detainees' release signals a fragile shift In Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, a Ukrainian drone struck a vehicle, killing one man and wounding another, regional authorities said. In Crimea—the peninsula Russia annexed in 2014—Ukrainian attacks killed two people and wounded four others, Moscow-installed officials reported. Background Thursday's violence comes as Moscow and Kyiv are now in their fifth year of full-scale war, with both sides increasingly launching strikes deep behind enemy lines. The civilian death toll has climbed to its highest level since 2022, even though the front lines themselves have seen little movement. On the Pokrovsk front, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed its forces captured the village of Bilytske, about 12 km north of Pokrovsk, which Moscow said it captured in December. Ukraine's General Staff countered that its forces repelled 42 Russian assaults near 19 settlements on that front in the past day, including Bilytske, though Kyiv has not yet commented on Russia's latest claim. Adding to the broader context, European Union envoys have agreed to a 21st sanctions package against Russia. The package targets 218 individuals and entities, hitting more than 100 banks and cryptocurrency operators, at least 40 vessels from Russia's so-called shadow fleet, several oil refineries, and over 50 military-industrial entities, including key actors involved in producing Russia's long-range drones, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X. The package also includes a 12-month freeze on the Russian oil price cap at $44.10 a barrel. Why It Matters The continued exchange of deep strikes demonstrates that neither side can fully protect its rear areas, and that civilians far from the front remain vulnerable. The rising civilian toll is likely to intensify international scrutiny and humanitarian concern, even as diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia through sanctions increases. The EU's latest sanctions package also reveals internal tensions: a one-year exemption—demanded by Greece—allows EU companies to transfer Russian LNG to third countries, with automatic renewal. Athens argued that banning such transfer services would simply shift market share outside Europe without affecting Russian revenues. Greece dominates Europe's LNG carrier market and is among the world's largest players, competing with Japan, China, and the United States. The EU ban on importing Russian LNG itself takes effect January 1. What's Next The EU sanctions package requires unanimous adoption by member states, and the compromise with Greece suggests potential for further negotiations. On the battlefield, Russia's claim of capturing Bilytske may signal a renewed push near Pokrovsk, though Ukrainian forces have not confirmed the loss. The coming days are likely to see additional cross-border strikes as both sides continue to target infrastructure and population centers. Casualty figures will be updated as more information emerges from affected regions.