**The incident underscores ongoing tensions as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire struggle amid renewed conflict in Ukraine.**
**Death Toll Rises After Russian Drone Strike on Ukrainian Bus**
**Death Toll Rises After Russian Drone Strike on Ukrainian Bus**
**At least nine killed and many injured as a Russian drone targets civilian transport in Marhanets.**
Nine individuals lost their lives following a Russian drone attack on a bus carrying workers in Marhanets, a city situated in central Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region. Regional leader Serhiy Lysak confirmed that over 30 people sustained injuries, with the casualty figures potentially rising as rescue efforts continue. This brutal strike occurred against a backdrop of faltering peace negotiations in London, designed to facilitate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Photos released by officials revealed extensive damage to the targeted bus, suggesting it was deliberately aimed at by the drone. Russia has yet to make an official statement regarding the incident. Concurrently, Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, experienced drone assaults for the second consecutive day.
On a diplomatic level, discussions aimed at achieving a ceasefire have faced setbacks, particularly with the withdrawal of key US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meetings, attended by senior representatives from the UK, France, Germany, the US, and Ukraine, were intended to foster a truce between the warring nations. General Keith Kellogg, an envoy under former President Donald Trump, represented the US in lieu of Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Amidst these deteriorating conditions, Witkoff is scheduled to visit Moscow for further talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reports have surfaced indicating that the US might entertain the idea of recognizing Crimea as a part of Russia to expedite peace talks; however, this proposition has been vehemently rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, countless lives have been lost or injured due to the ongoing conflict, highlighting a grim reality as efforts for peace continue to be challenged by military actions.
