Russia has been using drones and missiles to strike targets, wait some time, and then hit the same spot later.

Roman V. Starovoyt, the transport minister, had governed Russia’s western Kursk region before Ukrainian forces invaded in 2024 and occupied part of the territory.

Ukraine said it struck a Russian air base on Saturday, while Russia continued to attack Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war.