Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five
Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five
A drone strike by Russia targeted a market in southern Ukraine, resulting in five fatalities and 21 injuries, according to the prosecutor general’s office. The incident occurred at 09:50 local time (06:50 GMT) in Nikopol, a town situated across the Dnipro river from Russian-occupied territory. Images from the regional prosecutor depict shattered market stalls scattered with debris, including metal, glass, and food items.
Escalating conflict and civilian impact
Footage released by the regional prosecutor’s office shows the aftermath of the strike, with market kiosks reduced to rubble. The attack targeted a bustling area, leading to severe casualties. This follows at least 15 civilian deaths in drone and missile strikes nationwide on Friday. Meanwhile, Ukraine retaliated with a drone and missile assault on Taganrog, a southern Russian city, overnight, causing one fatality and four serious injuries, as reported by Russia.
Repeated strikes on Nikopol
Nikopol has become a frequent target, with nearly half its 100,000 residents relocating for safety. The latest strike on Saturday morning hit a crowded location, amplifying the toll. A second attack on the same site injured two men, prompting the prosecutor to classify the incidents as potential war crimes under investigation.
Russian drone barrage and countermeasures
Ukrainian forces noted that Russia deployed nearly 300 drones overnight, hitting areas in Kharkiv and the Sumy region. Moscow countered by claiming to have intercepted 85 of these drones. In Taganrog, the attack sparked a fire at a logistics company’s premises, as stated by Rostov regional governor Yuri Slyusar. A Ukrainian defense ministry official attributed the casualties to “Russian air defence operations.”
Industrial targets and regional damage
Kyiv also reported two strikes on factories linked to the Russian military industrial complex. One attack damaged a synthetic rubber production plant in Togliatti, while the Security Service of Ukraine said drone strikes disrupted operations at the Alchevsk metallurgical plant in the Luhansk region. The second attack on the plant caused damage to blast furnaces and production facilities, as per the agency’s statement.
Truce offer and stalled negotiations
President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a truce for the Easter holidays, but Moscow has yet to acknowledge it. The surge in daytime Russian attacks, once uncommon, reflects ongoing escalation. This trend coincides with stalled US-led efforts to end the war, as the Trump administration redirected focus to the Middle East conflict.
