Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five

Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five

According to the prosecutor general’s office, a drone strike on a market in southern Ukraine resulted in five fatalities and 21 injuries, among them a 14-year-old child. The strike occurred at 09:50 local time (06:50 GMT) in Nikopol, a town situated just across the Dnipro River from Russian-occupied territory.

Images released by the regional prosecutor depict shattered market stalls scattered with remnants of metal, glass, and food items. This follows reports of 15 civilian deaths from drone and missile attacks nationwide on Friday. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s drone and missile strike on Taganrog, a southern Russian city, claimed one life and left four others with severe injuries, as per Russian officials.

Regional Governor Yuri Slyusar reported that the strike triggered a fire at a logistics firm’s facilities within the city. A Ukrainian Defence Ministry representative attributed the casualties to “Russian air defence operations.” Kyiv also claimed to have targeted a factory in Togliatti, stating it supplied components for Russia’s military equipment.

Nikopol, a Ukrainian town, has been a frequent target, with nearly half its 100,000 residents evacuating to safer areas. However, the drones struck during a bustling Saturday morning, leading to a significant toll on casualties. The prosecutor noted that a second strike on the same site injured two men, with both incidents under scrutiny as potential war crimes.

President Zelensky proposed a temporary ceasefire with Russia during the Easter holiday period. Moscow has yet to accept this offer. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia deployed nearly 300 drones overnight, with casualties documented in Kharkiv and the Sumy region. Meanwhile, Moscow claimed to have downed 85 Ukrainian drones.

Russian daytime attacks, previously uncommon, have surged. This trend coincides with stalled peace initiatives led by the US, which have slowed since Trump’s administration redirected attention to the Middle East conflict.