A mass Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has left four people dead and 19 others injured, according to regional head Serhiy Lysak. The attack, which occurred late on Friday, targeted residential areas and a restaurant complex, igniting large fires that emergency responders battled through the night.
Lysak reported that Russia launched over 20 drones at Dnipro, with Ukrainian air defenses managing to shoot down most of them. Despite this, the assault caused widespread destruction, with images and videos from the city showing buildings engulfed in flames, shattered glass, and debris littering the streets. Air raid sirens also sounded in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian regions overnight, though it remains unclear if casualties were reported elsewhere.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, particularly regarding the targeting of energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address on Friday, accused Russia of violating a recently agreed temporary moratorium on strikes against energy facilities. The agreement, brokered earlier this month with U.S. involvement, aimed to prevent further escalation in the conflict. Moscow, however, has accused Ukraine of launching attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as well.
In a separate development, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested earlier this week that Ukraine should be placed under temporary UN control to elect what he termed a more “competent” government. The proposal was widely condemned by Ukraine and its allies, who view it as an attempt to undermine Kyiv’s legitimacy. Ukrainian officials dismissed Putin’s suggestion as a “crazy” idea designed to delay ceasefire negotiations, which are being pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue, with reports emerging that Washington brokered a limited truce in the Black Sea. However, Russia has responded with a list of conditions, including the lifting of some Western sanctions, raising concerns that Moscow may be attempting to stall peace efforts.
Adding to the geopolitical complexity, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the UK were proposing a reassurance force for Ukraine. The plan, discussed at a Paris summit with over 30 allied nations, has been met with warnings from Moscow, which considers any deployment of European troops in Ukraine as an escalation and a direct provocation.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has resulted in significant territorial losses for Ukraine, with Moscow currently controlling approximately 20% of the country. As the war drags on, diplomatic and military strategies from both sides continue to evolve, shaping the conflict’s uncertain future.
