- A Russian drone strike on a worker bus in Marhanets killed 9, injured over 30.
- Multiple regions across Ukraine targeted overnight, sparking fires and damage.
- Kyiv and Moscow hint at possible negotiations to protect civilian sites.
A Russian drone attack early Wednesday in the Ukrainian city of Marhanets struck a bus transporting workers. The attack killed nine people and injured at least 30 more.
These latest attacks come at a time when both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have shown openness to negotiating an agreement. They aim to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine Suffers Civilian Casualties as Peace Talk Prospects Surface
In a grim escalation of conflict, a Russian drone strike in the city of Marhanets killed nine civilians commuting to work. Ukrainian officials confirmed the victims were on a bus headed to an industrial enterprise when the drone hit. Local authorities in the Dnipropetrovsk region also reported at least 30 injuries. Emergency crews rushed to control fires and rescue survivors.
The attack in Marhanets was just one in a series of strikes across eastern and southern Ukraine. Civilian infrastructure in Poltava and Odesa was damaged, with fires breaking out in residential areas and industrial sites. Six people were injured in Poltava, and two more were hurt in the suburbs of Odesa. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, also experienced large-scale fires as a result of drone attacks.
Ukraine’s air defense units reportedly repelled strikes in the Kyiv region, though no damage was immediately confirmed. Meanwhile, Russia claimed it intercepted 11 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and Crimea. Despite Russia’s silence on the Marhanets attack, its defense ministry maintains that its actions are defensive in nature.
This uptick in violence occurs as peace negotiations are tentatively explored. Both Moscow and Kyiv have floated the idea of a pact banning attacks on civilian areas. However, a U.S.-backed peace framework—reportedly requiring Ukraine to accept some Russian-occupied territory—has drawn scrutiny. This may pose a major challenge in moving talks forward.
As hopes for diplomatic progress emerge, Russia’s continued targeting of civilians underscores the urgent need for a credible ceasefire mechanism that prioritizes human lives.
“The protection of civilians must be a top priority, not a bargaining chip in diplomacy.” – Volodymyr Zelensky
