Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five
Russian Attack on Ukraine Market Kills Five
A drone strike by Russia targeting a market in southern Ukraine left five civilians dead and 21 others wounded, including a 14-year-old girl, according to the prosecutor general’s office. 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. Images released by the regional prosecutor depict shattered market stalls littered with metal, glass, and remnants of food.
The assault follows a wave of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine on Friday that claimed at least 15 lives. In response, Ukraine launched a counterstrike on the Russian city of Taganrog, resulting in one fatality and four serious injuries. Russia reported the attack caused a fire at a logistics company’s premises in Taganrog.
“Russian air defence operations” were cited by a Ukrainian defence ministry official as the cause of the casualties, though the exact impact of the strikes remains under scrutiny.
Escalating Violence in Nikopol
Nikopol has become a frequent target, with nearly half of its 100,000 residents evacuating for safety. The latest strikes hit a bustling area on Saturday morning, amplifying the toll. The prosecutor confirmed a second attack on the same location injured two additional men, prompting investigations into potential war crime charges.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces reported that Russia deployed nearly 300 drones overnight, causing casualties in Kharkiv and the Sumy region. Moscow claimed to have intercepted 85 of these drones. The escalation of daytime attacks, once uncommon, has raised concerns as U.S.-led efforts to end the war stall, with attention diverted to the Middle East conflict.
Industrial Targets Under Fire
Ukraine also reported two strikes on facilities linked to Russia’s military industrial complex. One targeted a plant in Togliatti, which produced synthetic rubber and petrochemical raw materials. Another attack damaged key areas of the Alchevsk metallurgical plant in the Luhansk region, which is under Russian occupation. The Security Service noted the second strike in a month disrupted production at the facility.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a temporary ceasefire for the Easter holiday period, but Moscow has yet to acknowledge the offer. The ongoing barrage of attacks underscores the intensifying conflict, with both sides continuing to strike strategic locations amid stalled diplomatic efforts.
