Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five
Russian Attack on Ukraine Market Kills Five
A drone strike by Russia on a market in southern Ukraine resulted in five fatalities and 21 injuries, with a 14-year-old girl among the casualties. The incident occurred at 09:50 local time (06:50 GMT) in Nikopol, a town bordering the Dnipro river and situated near Russian-occupied territory. The prosecutor general’s office confirmed the toll, highlighting the attack’s impact on civilian life.
The assault followed a series of strikes across Ukraine on Friday, which claimed at least 15 civilian lives. Meanwhile, Ukraine retaliated with drone and missile attacks on the southern Russian city of Taganrog, killing one person and wounding four, according to Russian officials. The strike ignited a fire at a logistics company’s premises, disrupting operations in the area.
Nikopol, a frequent target of Russian assaults, has seen significant population displacement. Over half of its 100,000 residents fled for safety before the attack. The timing of the strike—during a busy Saturday morning—amplified the casualties. A second attack on the same location later that day left two additional men injured, prompting investigations into potential war crimes.
Ukrainian forces reported that Russia launched nearly 300 drones overnight, causing damage in Kharkiv and the Sumy region. Moscow countered by claiming to have downed 85 of these drones. A Ukrainian defense ministry official cited “Russian air defence operations” as the cause of the casualties, while the Security Service noted that a second strike on the Alchevsk metallurgical plant in the Luhansk region halted production, damaging critical infrastructure.
“Massive attack” was carried out on a plant in Togliatti that produced synthetic rubber and petrochemical raw materials, according to a Ukrainian defence ministry official.
Despite President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for a truce during the Easter holidays, Moscow has yet to respond. The increase in daytime Russian attacks, which were once uncommon, signals a shift in strategy. This escalation coincides with stalled US-led efforts to end the war, as President Donald Trump redirected focus to the Middle East conflict.