Kyiv: In a rare and audacious daytime assault, Russian forces launched a drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Tuesday, leaving one man dead and injuring 20 others. The strike, officials said, damaged residential buildings, office complexes, and medical facilities, sending shockwaves through the city center.
Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, reported that the attack struck at a peak hour when offices were bustling and children were attending school. On Telegram, Lysak shared dramatic footage showing thick smoke spiraling above damaged buildings, while firefighters worked tirelessly to control the blaze. The attack also left dozens of cars damaged and an office building ablaze, underscoring the destructive impact of this rare daytime strike.
Dnipro, a pivotal industrial and business hub in southeastern Ukraine, has been a target of previous Russian drone attacks, but daytime assaults remain uncommon, raising concerns about the vulnerability of civilian areas. The city's infrastructure, already under strain from ongoing conflict, bore the brunt of the attack, highlighting the challenges Ukraine faces in defending urban centers from aerial threats.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded promptly to the incident, calling for heightened international sanctions against Russia. "With every such strike, Russians prove time and again that they must face strong pressure," Zelenskiy posted on X, emphasizing the need for coordinated global action to hold Russia accountable and curb further attacks.
The strike in Dnipro serves as a stark reminder of the continuing risks faced by Ukrainian cities and civilians amid the ongoing war, and the urgent need for sustained international support to strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.