Central Ukraine endured a brutal night of Russian attacks that left one civilian dead and caused widespread destruction, regional officials confirmed Sunday. The industrial heartland of Dnipropetrovsk was heavily bombarded by drones, artillery, and rocket launchers, damaging buildings, power infrastructure, and critical civilian facilities.
According to Mykola Lukashuk, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, the Synelnykivsky district suffered a direct hit from a guided aerial bomb, killing a man and damaging five private homes along with a kindergarten. “Our sincere condolences go to the family of the victim,” Lukashuk said, underscoring the tragic human toll. Meanwhile, the Nikopol district reported damage to a business, four residential houses, and vital power lines.
These strikes come in the wake of an earlier attack on army training grounds in Dnipropetrovsk that claimed the lives of 12 soldiers, signaling an intensification of Moscow’s military campaign. The recent surge in assaults appears linked to Russia’s vow to retaliate after Kyiv’s audacious strikes on Russian air bases.
The violence unfolds against the backdrop of faltering diplomatic efforts in Istanbul, where talks aimed at ending the three-year conflict have stalled. A large-scale prisoner exchange, the only tangible outcome of the negotiations, has been delayed amid mutual accusations. Moscow claims Ukraine is unwilling to agree on a swap date, while Kyiv accuses Russia of “playing dirty games” by reneging on agreed terms.
The prisoner exchange, originally slated for this weekend, was to involve the release of more than 1,000 detainees from both sides, raising hopes for de-escalation. However, the impasse casts a shadow over prospects for peace, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of renewed hostilities.
