Russian drone strike hits Ukrainian energy workers’ bus, 15 killed

Kyiv: A bus carrying miners in Ukraine was struck by a Russian drone, killing at least 15 people and injuring seven others, Ukrainian officials confirmed. The attack took place in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region of the country. Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the regional military administration, said on Telegram that an enemy drone targeted a shuttle bus belonging to an energy company as employees were finishing their shift. Ukraine's emergency services said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that a fire broke out after the attack.

Death Toll Rises to 15

The emergency services post stated, "A Russian drone attacked a company service bus in the Pavlohrad district. Initial reports indicate that 12 people were killed. Seven others were injured and hospitalized." It added that the number of victims of the Russian attack had risen to 15.

The attack targeted a company bus near a DTEK coal facility. DTEK CEO Maksym Timchenko called the incident an unprovoked terrorist attack on a purely civilian target. The attack comes just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced new peace talks.

Second Trilateral Meeting Announced

Zelensky announced that the next trilateral meeting between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the US, to end the war is scheduled for February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi. Zelensky is under pressure from US President Trump to end the four-year-long war with Russia, while his country continues to face Russian airstrikes. The first trilateral talks between Ukraine and Russia, facilitated by the United States, took place in the UAE at the end of January. However, no agreement was reached on ending the war during this meeting. The biggest sticking point is Moscow's demand that Kyiv cede territory in the eastern Donetsk region, a demand that Ukraine has categorically rejected.