The situation in Ukraine has escalated after Russian drones targeted a bus carrying miners in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing 12 people, while a maternity and children's hospital in Zaporizhzhia was heavily damaged amid upcoming trilateral peace talks scheduled for this week.
Ukrainian officials revealed that at least 12 miners were killed in a Russian drone attack in eastern Ukraine. DTEK, the country's largest private energy company, reported that a bus transporting workers after their shift in Dnipropetrovsk was attacked on Sunday (1 Feb), injuring at least 15 people.
Earlier reports indicated at least two deaths and nine injuries from multiple attacks overnight and during the same day. One incident involved a drone striking Maternity Hospital No. 3 on Bosharovo Road in Zaporizhzhia, injuring six people, including two pregnant women in labor.
Ivan Fedorov, governor of Zaporizhzhia region, described the attack as "further evidence of a war aimed at destroying lives." A video shared on social media showed damage inside the building, patient and children's rooms, broken glass, scattered debris, fires in some areas, and staff urgently evacuating patients.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that the hospital attack reflects President Vladimir Putin's war against civilians, undermining peace efforts. Fedorov later reported three additional injuries from attacks on residential areas.
DTEK initially reported 15 deaths from the bus incident in Ternivka city, later revising the number to at least 12. Additionally, two deaths were reported from a drone strike in central Dnipro, and a 72-year-old man was injured in Nikopol. A 59-year-old woman was critically injured by artillery fire in Kherson, and three people were wounded in attacks in Kharkiv.
Reports stated that Russia has been targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure since January, leaving millions without electricity and heating during severe winter. Temperatures are expected to drop below -20 degrees Celsius in some areas this weekend. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Putin agreed to suspend attacks during the cold period, but the Kremlin confirmed the pause will end on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ukraine said it is working with Elon Musk's SpaceX to prevent Russian use of Starlink satellite systems in drone attacks after discovering such equipment on Russian long-range drones. Musk said measures to block unauthorized use are beginning to take effect, and Ukraine's defense minister expressed gratitude for Musk's support.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that the second round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. to end the nearly four-year conflict will begin on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, delayed from the original Sunday schedule for unspecified reasons. The main unresolved issue remains territorial demands, with Russia occupying about one-fifth of Ukraine, including most of Donbas, while Ukraine seeks the return of control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the country's largest.
. SourceBBC