Russian attack on Ukraine market kills five

Russian Market Attack in Ukraine Claims Five Lives

A drone strike by Russian forces targeting a market in southern Ukraine resulted in five deaths and 21 injuries, including a 14-year-old girl, according to the prosecutor general’s office. The incident occurred at 09:50 local time (06:50 GMT) in Nikopol, a town bordering the Dnipro river and situated near Russian-occupied territory. Images shared by the regional prosecutor depict the aftermath, with damaged market stalls scattered across debris, metal, and broken glass.

Friday’s attacks saw at least 15 civilians killed by drones and missiles nationwide. In response, Ukraine launched an assault on the southern Russian city of Taganrog, causing one fatality and four serious injuries, as reported by Russia. The regional governor, Yuri Slyusar, noted that the strike ignited a fire at a logistics company’s facility. A Ukrainian Defence Ministry official, however, attributed the damage to “Russian air defence operations.”

Meanwhile, Kyiv claimed to have targeted a factory in Togliatti, alleging it produced components for Russia’s military. Nikopol, a town of 100,000 residents, has been frequently bombed, with nearly half its population evacuating for safety. The latest strikes, however, struck during a bustling morning, leading to severe casualties. A second attack on the same site injured two men, prompting an investigation into potential war crimes.

“President Zelensky has proposed a pause in hostilities for the Easter holiday period.”

Despite this offer, Moscow has not responded. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia deployed nearly 300 drones overnight, causing casualties in Kharkiv and the Sumy region. Russia, in turn, claimed to have downed 85 Ukrainian drones. The escalation of daytime attacks, once uncommon, continues as US-led peace efforts stall, partly due to the shift in focus toward the Middle East under President Donald Trump’s administration.