KYIV: At least seven people were killed and more than two dozen injured on Monday after Russian missile and drone strikes hit central and southern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian authorities, as Moscow continued its campaign of aerial attacks amid the prolonged war.
The deadliest strike occurred in the central city of Dnipro, where a Russian missile hit a private business, killing five people. Regional officials said 28 others were injured, including four who remained in critical condition.
Regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said the victims suffered traumatic brain injuries, blast trauma, fractures and shrapnel wounds.
Emergency responders and medical teams rushed to the scene to treat the injured, while police released photographs showing rescue workers assisting casualties at the site of the attack.
In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, a Russian drone struck a public minibus, killing two people. Images released by local authorities showed the vehicle with its windows shattered and rear doors blown off by the explosion.
The latest attacks come as both Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify long-range missile and drone strikes, despite repeated diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.
Peace talks have remained stalled, with no significant progress towards ending the conflict, now in its fourth year.
Dnipro, a major industrial hub located roughly 100 kilometres from the front line, has been subjected to frequent Russian missile attacks because of its strategic importance.
Meanwhile, Zaporizhzhia lies around 30 kilometres from active fighting and serves as the administrative centre of a region that Moscow claims to have annexed, although Russian forces do not fully control it, according to AFP.
The area has remained one of the key battlegrounds in the war, with regular attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets.
The latest strikes underscore the continuing human toll of the conflict, as civilians in cities far from the front line remain vulnerable to missile and drone attacks.
