Russian forces launched deadly attacks across Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region on Tuesday, killing at least six people, regional officials reported, following the expiration of a three-day ceasefire. Ukrainian officials stated that Russia deployed over 200 drones overnight, dashing hopes that the truce, which ended on Monday, would be extended.
Civilian Casualties and Destruction
A drone attack on an apartment building in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown, claimed two lives and injured four others, including a nine-month-old granddaughter of the deceased couple whose leg was severed, according to the regional governor and local military administration head. North-east of Kryvyi Rih, an aerial bomb strike killed four and wounded three, officials said.
“After the end of the partial three-day ceasefire, Russia continues to kill and maim Ukrainians, and pressure on it must therefore in no way be weakened,” Zelenskyy stated. He reported that drones were intercepted over several regions but noted damage to energy facilities, apartment buildings, a kindergarten, and a civilian locomotive.
Regional Impacts
In Kyiv, debris from a downed drone landed on the roof of a 16-storey residential building in the northern Obolon district, sparking a fire, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Two people were injured in the central Cherkasy region, and damage was also recorded in the Zhytomyr region to the west, as well as in the Chernihiv region on the Russian border. Two more people were hurt in strikes on the south-eastern city of Dnipro and the southern city of Kherson.
Russian drones also targeted energy infrastructure in the Mykolaiv region, causing blackouts, confirmed Governor Vitaliy Kim.
Ukrainian Response and International Context
Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces struck gas facilities in Russia's central Orenburg region, more than 1,500 km (900 miles) from Ukraine's borders. “Overall, Ukraine’s current position on the frontline, in our long-range [strikes] and in our joint results with our partners are at their highest level in years. We must maintain this level and continue to achieve results,” he said in a national address. He added that Kyiv is working with European allies to develop technologies to defend against ballistic missiles, with 13 countries and NATO representatives participating in talks on Tuesday.
Potential for Ending the War
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas remarked on Tuesday that signs of Vladimir Putin's weakening position could open a window to ending the war in Ukraine. Putin suggested over the weekend that the conflict was “heading to an end” after more than four years of bloodshed. “What his statement really shows is that he’s not in a strong position,” Kallas said after a meeting with EU defence ministers. “So I think there’s an opportunity for ending this war.”
