Russian drone strike on bus kills five in southeastern Ukraine

A Russian drone struck a passenger bus in southeastern Ukraine on Wednesday, killing five people and wounding at least seven others, according to the regional governor.

Dnipropetrovsk region governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported the attack on the Telegram messaging app, saying it occurred in an area around the city of Nikopol, which lies close to the frontline. He shared a photo showing a white vehicle with its windows blown out and blood visible along its side.

Nikopol sits on the Dnipro river directly across from Russian-occupied territory, located several kilometres away on the opposite bank. The city has repeatedly come under Russian attack.

Local officials respond

Mykola Lukashuk, head of the Dnipropetrovsk region council, said the strike deliberately targeted a minibus carrying people going about their daily business, calling it a cynical act by Russian forces.

Russia did not immediately comment on the incident. Both Ukraine and Russia have consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians during the war, which began with Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022.