Twelve miners have been killed by a Russian drone strike in eastern Ukraine, the country's largest private energy firm has said.
DTEK reported that a bus carrying workers home after a shift in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region had been targeted in Sunday's devastating attack. At least 15 others were injured, according to state emergency services.
This tragedy comes amidst separate strikes across the country, including one where a drone hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, injuring six people. These attacks follow a reported agreement from Russia to refrain from targeting population centers and energy infrastructure during a cold snap.
Despite this agreement, strikes have continued in regions near the front line, causing widespread devastation. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister condemned the strikes as indicative of a 'war against civilians', highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the cold winter.
Visual evidence from the maternity hospital attack shows severe damage, with rooms and offices left in ruin. Meanwhile, the impact of the DTEK assault has put further strain on communities already suffering from the conflict.
Moscow confirmed its strikes are aimed at facilitating peace talks set to take place in Abu Dhabi, yet these actions have drawn condemnation from global observers, affirming the need for accountability and protection for civilians caught in the conflict.
