A Russian drone attack on a market in southern Ukraine has killed five people and injured 21, including a 14-year-old girl, according to the prosecutor general's office.
The attack occurred at 09:50 local time in Nikopol, which lies across the Dnipro river from territories occupied by Russia since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Images released by regional prosecutors depict the scene as chaotic, with market stalls reduced to rubble, scattered with debris from the destruction.
This aerial assault follows a series of strikes across Ukraine that caused at least 15 civilian fatalities on Friday alone, raising alarms about the rising casualties amidst the ongoing war.
There were also reports of drone and missile strikes by Ukrainian forces affecting the Russian city of Taganrog, resulting in one death and four serious injuries, according to Russian officials.
In Nikopol, the attacks struck during peak hours in a densely populated area, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Reports suggest that investigations are underway to classify these attacks as war crimes.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian air force has reported over 300 Russian drones targeted various regions, including Kharkiv and Sumy, with Moscow claiming they intercepted 85 of these drones.
Regional governor Yuri Slyusar of Rostov stated that Taganrog suffered damage from the Ukrainian attacks, while Ukraine retaliated by targeting military industrial sites in Russia.
Amidst the violence, President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a truce for the Easter holidays, but the response from Moscow has been notably absent. The increasing frequency of major daytime attacks by Russia marks a significant shift in the conflict dynamics.
As diplomatic efforts led by the US face challenges and ceasefire talks stall, recent intelligence assessments indicate that the frontline situation, particularly in the east, may be shifting favorably for Ukraine.
