Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five
Russian Attack on Ukraine Market Kills Five
A drone strike by Russia targeting a market in southern Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of five individuals and injuries to 21 others, including a 14-year-old girl, according to the country’s prosecutor general’s office. The incident occurred at 09:50 local time (06:50 GMT) in Nikopol, a town situated just across the Dnipro River from territory under Russian control since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Photographs released by the regional prosecutor’s office depict the aftermath: market stalls reduced to rubble, with debris scattered across the area. The attack struck during a bustling morning, exacerbating the toll on civilians. This follows reports of at least 15 Ukrainian citizens killed in drone and missile strikes nationwide on Friday.
Ukrainian Counterstrike in Russia
In response, Ukraine launched drone and missile attacks on the southern Russian city of Taganrog overnight, leaving at least one fatality and four severe injuries, as reported by Moscow. This marks another instance of cross-border strikes, with Ukraine accusing Russian air defenses of escalating the damage.
“Russian air defence operations” were cited by a Ukrainian defence ministry official as the cause of the casualties, highlighting the intensifying conflict dynamics.
Nikopol, a town of around 100,000 residents, has seen frequent bombardments. Nearly half its population fled for safety during the war. The latest strikes, however, hit a particularly crowded section of the market, leading to significant loss of life. A second attack on the same area caused additional injuries, prompting authorities to investigate the incidents as potential war crimes.
Ukrainian air force updates indicate Russia deployed nearly 300 drones overnight, targeting locations like Kharkiv and Sumy. These strikes have caused casualties in multiple regions. Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have intercepted 85 Ukrainian drones during the same period.
Damage extended beyond Ukraine, with Rostov regional governor Yuri Slyusar reporting a fire at a logistics company in Taganrog following the strike. Ukraine also claimed to have attacked two facilities linked to Russia’s military industrial complex. A recent strike on a synthetic rubber plant in Togliatti disrupted production, while the Alchevsk metallurgical plant in Luhansk, an occupied area, suffered damage in a second attack within a month.
President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a ceasefire for the Easter holiday period, but Russia has yet to acknowledge the offer. The frequency of daytime strikes by Russian forces has risen sharply, signaling a shift in strategy. This escalation occurs as U.S.-led peace initiatives have stalled, with the Trump administration redirecting focus to the Middle East conflict.
