Drone Strike Kills Seven in Russian‑Controlled Ukraine
A drone attack on a passenger bus traveling through Russian‑controlled territory in eastern Ukraine killed seven civilians and wounded 11 others, officials said on Wednesday morning.
Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin‑appointed head of the Donetsk region, reported that the strike occurred in the early hours of a Wednesday while the bus was en route between Moscow and the Crimean capital, Simferopol. Russia’s defence ministry said it had shot down more than 350 drones overnight, including those launched from Ukrainian‑controlled areas.
The incident follows a massive Russian assault on Ukrainian cities that killed at least 22 people the previous day. In the same period, Russian authorities claimed to have downed 50 drones over the Leningrad region, south of Moscow, as the city prepares to host the International Economic Forum featuring delegations from over 130 countries.
International observers have called for restraint and highlighted the growing risk of civilian casualties amid an increasingly congested airspace. Ukrainian officials have condemned the drone strike, citing evidence that the aircraft operating the drone was a Ukrainian‑made Vampire heavy bomber. The incident underscores the escalating tension in the conflict, as Russian‑controlled areas become targets for both sides in the war.
