A Russian drone strike on a passenger bus in southern Ukraine has killed five people and wounded at least seven, local authorities said on Wednesday. The bus was travelling on a regular route in the Nikopol district, a frontline area that has come under repeated attack since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Oleksandr Ganzha, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said in a Telegram post that the Russians hit the minibus with a drone. "Five people have been killed and at least seven wounded as a result of an enemy strike on a minibus in the Nikopol district," he wrote. Photographs released by the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration show a white minibus with shattered windows and blood running down its side.
Nikopol lies on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been occupied by Russian forces since the early days of the invasion. The plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, has been a persistent source of concern due to shelling and the risk of a major accident.
The attack comes as the United Nations reports that civilian deaths in Ukraine are running at their highest level since the first months of the war. The UN's monitoring mission has documented a sharp increase in casualties from drone and missile strikes, many of which hit residential areas, transport hubs, and vehicles.
Civilian toll mounts amid shifting front lines
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called on Western allies to provide more air-defence systems to counter the growing threat from Russian drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed models. The strikes have also extended beyond the front line, with recent attacks reported in Kyiv, Odesa, and other cities.
The Nikopol district has been particularly vulnerable due to its proximity to Russian-held territory across the Dnieper. Residents have endured months of shelling and drone attacks, with many choosing to evacuate despite the risks. Local authorities have urged civilians to heed air-raid warnings and avoid unnecessary travel.
The latest incident highlights the broader pattern of Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and transport, which international law prohibits. The UN has documented numerous violations, and human rights groups have called for accountability.
In Brussels, EU leaders have continued to stress their support for Ukraine, with the European Commission's recent State of the Union address focusing on defence and Ukraine's resilience. The EU has also been working to counter Russian disinformation, including false claims about Ukrainian conscription policies, as the bloc denied pressuring Ukraine to draft women.
Meanwhile, NATO has increased its vigilance along the eastern flank. NATO jets intercepted a drone over Lithuania earlier this week, underscoring the spillover risks of the conflict. Belarus has also re-emerged as a launchpad for Russian drone strikes, raising concerns for both Ukraine and NATO members.
The war shows no sign of abating, with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis warning that the conflict could last another two years. As the fighting grinds on, the civilian toll continues to mount, and the international community faces renewed pressure to respond.
