Dnipro: A drone strike carried out by Russian forces early Saturday morning hit a residential tower block in eastern Ukraine, killing three people and injuring 12 others, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred in Dnipro, the country’s fourth-largest city, as residents were asleep. Emergency services reported that a nine-story building caught fire, destroying several apartments. Among the injured were two children, who were rushed to nearby hospitals.
The strike comes amid intense fighting over the strategically significant city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities said Russia launched a total of 458 drones and 45 missiles across multiple fronts, including 32 ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 406 drones and nine missiles, though several attacks reached their targets.
Rescue operations in Dnipro recovered the victims, while firefighters worked to control the blaze caused by the impact. National energy operators also reported widespread power outages in several regions, attributing them to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s electricity grid ahead of the winter season.
Despite almost four years of sustained conflict, Russian forces continue to launch daily drone and missile strikes targeting Ukrainian cities, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains that his forces are close to achieving victory and has reiterated that Ukraine must cede control of the Donbas region, encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk, as a condition for peace.