A Russian drone strike on a busy market in eastern Ukraine has killed at least five people and injured 25 others, according to Ukrainian officials, in one of the latest attacks highlighting a shift towards intensified daytime bombardments.
The strike took place on Saturday morning in the city of Nikopol, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Local authorities said the attack hit a covered market shortly before midday, causing significant casualties among civilians. Officials confirmed that three women and two men were among those killed, while a teenage girl was reported to be in critical condition.
Emergency images from the scene showed extensive damage, with fire engulfing parts of the structure and debris scattered across the area.
The attack forms part of a broader pattern of escalating strikes across Ukraine. While aerial assaults have been a consistent feature of the conflict, they have traditionally occurred overnight. In recent weeks, however, Ukrainian officials say Russia has increased the frequency of attacks during daylight hours.
Elsewhere on Saturday, further strikes were reported across several regions. In Kharkiv, near the frontline, at least six people were wounded, while overnight attacks in the northern Sumy region left multiple civilians injured and damaged residential infrastructure.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched hundreds of drones overnight, with the majority intercepted. Despite these interceptions, several strikes caused casualties and destruction across populated areas.
In the southern region of Kherson, authorities said one person was killed and others injured following additional attacks.
Cross-border hostilities have also continued. Russian officials reported casualties in the Rostov region following strikes attributed to Ukrainian forces, while a cargo vessel in the Sea of Azov was damaged by debris from a drone incident.
The escalation in violence comes amid stalled diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Istanbul for discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as Kyiv continues to push for renewed negotiations.
Zelensky has indicated willingness to consider a temporary ceasefire during the Orthodox Easter period, though Russian officials have said no formal proposal has been received. Ukraine maintains that Moscow is prolonging the conflict, while Russia has argued it seeks a longer-term settlement rather than a short pause in fighting.
Efforts to restart peace talks have been complicated by shifting global dynamics, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has diverted diplomatic attention and resources.
At the same time, Ukraine has sought to expand its strategic engagement with regional partners, including Gulf states, particularly in areas such as defence cooperation and maritime security. Kyiv has also suggested it could contribute to stabilising key global shipping routes affected by conflict, drawing on its experience in maintaining access to the Black Sea during earlier phases of the war.
As attacks continue across multiple regions, the latest strike on a civilian market underscores the persistent risks faced by communities and the absence of any immediate resolution to the conflict.
.jpg "Obama 'Star Wars' center reflects former president’s vision, legacy")
