In brief
A Russian drone strike on a busy market in Nikopol, Ukraine, has left five people dead and 21 injured, including a minor. The attack, which occurred during morning hours, caused significant destruction to market kiosks. This incident follows a series of similar assaults, intensifying concerns over civilian safety in conflict zones. Investigations into the incident are ongoing as accusations of war crimes surface.
A Russian drone attack on a market in southern Ukraine has killed five people and injured 21, including a 14-year-old girl, the prosecutor general's office says. The attack took place at 09:50 (06.50 GMT) in the town of Nikopol, across the Dnipro river from land occupied by Russia since their full-scale invasion in February 2022. Pictures published by the regional prosecutor show smashed market kiosks strewn with metal and glass.This incident comes after at least 15 civilians were killed in drone and missile strikes across Ukraine recently. In a separate attack, a drone and missile strike by Ukraine on the southern Russian city of Taganrog killed at least one person and seriously injured four.Nikopol frequently comes under fire, and almost half of the town's 100,000 residents have left for safety. However, this drone strike took place during peak hours in a busy area, which led to high casualties.Two men were injured in a subsequent strike on the same location, prompting investigations into the attacks as potential war crimes. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched nearly 300 drones against Ukraine overnight, with additional casualties reported in other regions.In Taganrog, a fire erupted in a logistics company as a result of the strike. Moscow claims to have shot down 85 Ukrainian drones amid ongoing air conflict. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently offered Russia a truce for the Easter holidays, but there has been no response from Moscow. Major daytime attacks by Russia, which were once rare, are now increasing, raising alarms about civilian safety.A British intelligence assessment suggested the situation on the frontline in the east is the most favorable for Ukraine in months, even as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have stalled.
