Kyiv: A deadly Russian drone strike early Thursday has claimed the lives of three civilians and wounded others in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian officials and emergency services reported, underscoring a fresh escalation in hostilities even as diplomatic talks continue.
The regional governor, Ivan Fedorov, confirmed that two women aged 26 and 50, along with a 62-year-old man, were killed when the unmanned aerial vehicles struck residential areas. Several buildings were damaged or destroyed, and fire crews were seen battling intense blazes amid collapsed structures.
Officials said Russian forces launched 105 drones overnight, of which Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down 84, highlighting the persistent pressure on Kyiv’s defensive systems. The Zaporizhzhia region, partly occupied by Russian forces, has been one of the most fiercely contested areas since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
In the 24 hours leading up to the attack, authorities reported hundreds of strikes by Russian forces across 34 settlements in the region a reminder of the conflict’s intensity and its toll on civilians.
The drone barrage did not end in Zaporizhzhia. Russian drones also struck Odesa, the strategically vital port city on the Black Sea, where an industrial facility was set ablaze and warehouses, trucks and production buildings were damaged, though no casualties were reported in that assault.
Across the country, additional attacks have targeted residential infrastructure and transport hubs, including a passenger train strike in the Kharkiv region that reportedly killed several people and injured dozens, according to regional authorities.
These strikes occur against the backdrop of ongoing, U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, with further negotiations expected soon a diplomatic push that so far has failed to halt fighting on the ground. Both Kyiv and Moscow continue to exchange accusations over civilian harm, with each side denying deliberate targeting of non-combatants.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and international officials have repeatedly condemned such attacks as violations of international law and have urged increased support for Ukraine’s defense and accelerated diplomatic engagement. Western governments have expressed concern over the impact on civilian populations as the war nears its fourth year.
The latest assault adds to a grim pattern of civilian casualties and destruction of critical infrastructure, including power grids and homes, during the brutal winter months. Relief efforts continue amid harsh conditions, with emergency teams working to extinguish fires, rescue the wounded and clear debris.
As the conflict grinds on with no immediate end in sight, Ukraine faces the dual challenge of defending its territory and safeguarding its civilian population while navigating complex international negotiations aimed at peace.