Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five

Five individuals lost their lives and 21 others were wounded in a drone strike targeting a market in southern Ukraine, according to the prosecutor general’s office. The incident occurred at 09:50 local time (06:50 GMT) in Nikopol, a town located just across the Dnipro river from Russian-occupied territory. Images from the regional prosecutor’s office depict the aftermath, showing market stalls damaged and debris scattered across the area.

The assault comes amid a surge in daytime strikes by Russia, which have become more frequent as international efforts to resolve the conflict, led by the United States, face delays following the shift in focus to the Middle East. Nikopol, a frequent target, has seen significant civilian displacement, with nearly half its population of 100,000 fleeing for safety. The attacks in Nikopol on Saturday morning struck a bustling location, leading to a higher number of casualties compared to previous incidents.

Russia reported that its own forces suffered one fatality and four serious injuries in a drone and missile strike on the southern city of Taganrog overnight. The attack ignited a fire at a logistics company in the city, according to Rostov regional governor Yuri Slyusar. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s defense ministry attributed the damage to “Russian air defence operations,” though the prosecutor’s office is investigating the strikes as potential war crimes.

“These attacks were carried out in the middle of the day, hitting a crowded area,” the prosecutor said, emphasizing the high toll of injuries.

Ukrainian forces also reported strikes on industrial sites linked to the Russian military. Two attacks targeted factories, with one damaging the Alchevsk metallurgical plant in the Luhansk region, a zone under Russian occupation. The second strike in the area caused damage to blast furnaces and production facilities, as noted by Ukraine’s Security Service. Russia, in turn, launched nearly 300 drones overnight, resulting in casualties in Kharkiv and Sumy.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a temporary ceasefire for the Easter holiday period, but Moscow has yet to respond. The escalating frequency of attacks reflects the ongoing tension and lack of progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war.