Twelve miners were killed and at least 15 others injured after a Russian drone struck a bus carrying DTEK workers in eastern Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday, the private energy firm reported.
The attack followed separate Russian strikes overnight, including one that damaged a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, according to state emergency services.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha characterized the hospital bombing as proof that Russian President Vladimir Putin is pursuing a “war against civilians contrary to peace efforts.” Zaporizhzhia regional head Ivan Fedorov labeled the strike on the hospital, which reportedly occurred while women were giving birth, as further evidence of a “war directed against life,” as reported by the BBC.
These escalations in violence occur despite reports that Russia had agreed to temporarily halt strikes on population centers and energy infrastructure during a cold snap to facilitate peace negotiations expected in Abu Dhabi this week.
Separately, the conflict saw a technological dimension emerge, as Ukraine confirmed it was cooperating with SpaceX to prevent Moscow from using the Starlink satellite system for long-range drone guidance. Ukrainian officials thanked Elon Musk for addressing the unauthorized use of the system, which Kyiv relies upon for critical internet connectivity.
Peace talks aimed at resolving the nearly four-year conflict are reportedly set for Wednesday and Thursday, having been postponed from earlier in the week. A key sticking point in negotiations remains the status of Ukrainian territory currently under Russian control, which constitutes roughly one-fifth of the nation.
Further civilian casualties were reported across the country, including two deaths from a drone strike in the central city of Dnipro and injuries sustained in shelling incidents in Kherson and Kharkiv. These ongoing attacks underscore the hardened positions ahead of the anticipated diplomatic engagements.
