US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the risk of escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine is “real,” warning that recent actions inside Russia could increase tensions. His comments come after Ukrainian drone strikes hit energy infrastructure in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. Kyiv describes the strikes as retaliation for earlier Russian attacks that it says killed at least 23 people, following a mass wave of strikes on Tuesday. The reports link Rubio’s warning to what they characterize as Ukraine’s growing capacity to strike farther into Russian territory, including targets tied to energy infrastructure. While Rubio highlights escalation concerns, the accounts do not provide independent verification of casualty figures beyond Kyiv’s statements. The incidents are presented as part of an ongoing pattern of reciprocal strikes, with both sides attributing their actions to retaliation. No additional details on the scope of damage, specific facilities targeted, or subsequent operational assessments are included in the cited summaries.