Russian drone attack kills four, wounds 21 in Ukraine
Published: 04:03 PM,Mar 29,2025 | EDITED : 08:03 PM,Mar 29,2025
A view shows the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine. — Reuters
KYIV: A Russian drone attack killed at least four people and wounded 21 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, damaging high-rise buildings and triggering fires in a hotel, service stations and homes, an official said on Saturday. Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up their aerial attacks even as US President Donald Trump pushes the Kremlin and Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire after more than three years of costly fighting. Late Friday, Russia sent 'more than two dozen drones' to Dnipro, governor of Dnipropetrovsk region Sergiy Lysak wrote on his official Telegram account. Lysak said four people were killed and by Saturday morning he sent an updated statement that said the number of wounded had risen to 21. 'The massive attack caused large-scale destruction and fires. A hotel and restaurant complex, 11 private houses, garages and a service station were on fire,' he said, adding that high-rises and cars were also damaged. The fires were extinguished, Lysak said, offering condolences to the families of the victims.
On Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a 'transitional administration' to be put in place in Ukraine and vowed his army would 'finish off' Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin's call for a UN-run administration as the Russian leader's latest ploy to delay a peace deal. Russia and Ukraine have also each accused each other of breaching commitments to not strike energy facilities, throwing yet more jeopardy on the prospects of even a temporary and partial halt in the three-year war. Since returning to office in January, Trump has pushed for a ceasefire, with navigation on the Black Sea forming an early part of negotiations.
Meanwhile, Russia on Saturday claimed the capture of two villages in eastern and southern Ukraine, pressing ahead with its advance amid stumbling efforts for a ceasefire by US President Donald Trump. The defence ministry said Moscow's forces captured the village of Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile said Russia had launched more than 170 drones into Ukraine overnight, striking targets in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions. He said four people were killed in Dnipro, where the strike hit a hotel complex and 21 others were injured, including a pregnant woman. 'Russia is making a mockery of peacekeeping efforts around the world. It is dragging out the war and sowing terror because it still feels no real pressure,' Zelensky said.
For several weeks, the United States has been trying to negotiate a ceasefire in the Black Sea and in strikes targeting energy infrastructure in both nations with both Moscow and Kyiv. While both countries have agreed to these truces in principle, their implementation remains uncleark; and Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of seeking to derail them. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the idea of a 'transitional administration' for Ukraine, under the auspices of the UN, an option that would imply Zelensky's departure, before any peace deal was negotiated.
The UN rights chief called on Friday for an end to the 'horrific suffering' caused by attacks on civilians in Ukraine, while the United States attempts to broker a ceasefire, more than three years into Russia's attack. 'Recent weeks have seen intense activity around a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, which would be very welcome,' Volker Turk told the United Nations Human Rights Council. 'Limited ceasefires that protect shipping lanes and infrastructure are a welcome step forward. What is most needed now is an end to the horrific suffering being inflicted daily in Ukraine.' Turk added that peace must include an end to discrimination, based on nationality or language and the restoration of property rights, while transitional justice and accountability would be 'essential to sustainable peace'. The Ukrainian people needed to be 'at the centre of all discussions around peace', Turk said. — AFP
On Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a 'transitional administration' to be put in place in Ukraine and vowed his army would 'finish off' Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin's call for a UN-run administration as the Russian leader's latest ploy to delay a peace deal. Russia and Ukraine have also each accused each other of breaching commitments to not strike energy facilities, throwing yet more jeopardy on the prospects of even a temporary and partial halt in the three-year war. Since returning to office in January, Trump has pushed for a ceasefire, with navigation on the Black Sea forming an early part of negotiations.
Meanwhile, Russia on Saturday claimed the capture of two villages in eastern and southern Ukraine, pressing ahead with its advance amid stumbling efforts for a ceasefire by US President Donald Trump. The defence ministry said Moscow's forces captured the village of Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile said Russia had launched more than 170 drones into Ukraine overnight, striking targets in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions. He said four people were killed in Dnipro, where the strike hit a hotel complex and 21 others were injured, including a pregnant woman. 'Russia is making a mockery of peacekeeping efforts around the world. It is dragging out the war and sowing terror because it still feels no real pressure,' Zelensky said.
For several weeks, the United States has been trying to negotiate a ceasefire in the Black Sea and in strikes targeting energy infrastructure in both nations with both Moscow and Kyiv. While both countries have agreed to these truces in principle, their implementation remains uncleark; and Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of seeking to derail them. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the idea of a 'transitional administration' for Ukraine, under the auspices of the UN, an option that would imply Zelensky's departure, before any peace deal was negotiated.
The UN rights chief called on Friday for an end to the 'horrific suffering' caused by attacks on civilians in Ukraine, while the United States attempts to broker a ceasefire, more than three years into Russia's attack. 'Recent weeks have seen intense activity around a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, which would be very welcome,' Volker Turk told the United Nations Human Rights Council. 'Limited ceasefires that protect shipping lanes and infrastructure are a welcome step forward. What is most needed now is an end to the horrific suffering being inflicted daily in Ukraine.' Turk added that peace must include an end to discrimination, based on nationality or language and the restoration of property rights, while transitional justice and accountability would be 'essential to sustainable peace'. The Ukrainian people needed to be 'at the centre of all discussions around peace', Turk said. — AFP