Date: April 4, 2026 l Reporter: Musa Amed
At least five people have been killed and 19 others injured after a Russian drone strike hit a crowded market in eastern Ukraine, marking another deadly escalation in the ongoing war.
According to officials, the attack occurred in the city of Nikopol, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where a drone struck a covered market during the morning hours when civilians were present. Authorities confirmed that three women and two men were among those killed in the strike.
Emergency services reported that several of the wounded sustained serious injuries, including a 14-year-old girl who remains in critical condition. The strike, which took place around 9:50 a.m. local time, caused significant destruction to the market structure, with images showing parts of the building engulfed in flames.
The attack forms part of a broader wave of intensified Russian aerial assaults across Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force disclosed that Russia launched hundreds of drones overnight, with most intercepted by air defense systems, though several still managed to strike civilian areas.
In separate incidents, additional casualties were reported across the country. In Kharkiv, near the frontline, at least five people were wounded in another strike, while in the Sumy region, attacks on residential areas left 11 people injured.
Further reports indicated that civilians, including children, were among those affected in multiple regions, highlighting the widespread impact of the ongoing bombardments on non-combatants.
Meanwhile, violence has also spilled across the border into Russia. Authorities in the Rostov region confirmed that a missile and drone attack left one person dead and four others seriously injured, with additional damage reported to infrastructure and a cargo vessel in the Sea of Azov.
The latest escalation comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated readiness for a potential Easter truce, but Russian officials say no concrete proposal has been formally presented.
Zelenskyy is currently engaged in talks with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, seeking to revive negotiations and strengthen international cooperation. However, analysts say the ongoing Middle East conflict has further complicated diplomatic channels and delayed peace efforts.
As the war continues with no immediate resolution in sight, the latest attack underscores the persistent danger faced by civilians across Ukraine, with marketplaces, homes, and critical infrastructure increasingly becoming targets in the prolonged conflict.