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Tragic Drone Strike in Ukraine Claims Nine Lives
In a devastating attack, officials report that a Russian drone strike has killed nine individuals in Ukraine. The incident took place on Wednesday morning in Marhanets, a city located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, situated just across the Dnieper River from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Regional administrator Serhiy Lysak has confirmed that over 30 people sustained injuries, indicating that “the number of victims is constantly growing.” This attack highlights the ongoing dangers faced by civilians amid the conflict.
Photographs released by Lysak depict the harrowing aftermath, with the bus targeted by the drone showing a significant hole in the roof, doors torn from their hinges, and shattered glass littering the interior. Such damage suggests that the bus may have been deliberately aimed at during the assault. As of now, Russian authorities have not issued any statements regarding the attack.
Concurrently, drone strikes have also impacted Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, marking a second consecutive day of violence in the area. The escalation in hostilities comes amidst faltering diplomatic efforts. Talks aimed at brokering a ceasefire, taking place in London, have been downgraded following the withdrawal of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a 30-hour ceasefire for Easter Sunday, which Ukraine had indicated it would follow. However, both sides have accused each other of violating the truce. Last month, Moscow presented an extensive list of conditions regarding a potential full ceasefire that was discussed with representatives from the US and Ukraine.
Efforts in Washington seek to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, with separate engagements involving Ukrainian and European officials. High-ranking officials from the UK, France, Germany, the US, and Ukraine have convened in London for these discussions, but the meetings are notably not involving foreign ministers.
In place of Rubio and Witkoff, Gen. Keith Kellogg, a representative from Donald Trump’s administration, is in attendance. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also set to hold a separate meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart during this diplomatic effort.
Witkoff has played a pivotal role recently, functioning as an intermediary between the White House and the Kremlin. He is expected to return to Moscow shortly for further discussions with President Putin.
In a controversial move, reports suggest that the US is contemplating the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, a proposition that has been firmly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Crimea, which has been internationally acknowledged as a part of Ukraine, has been under Russian control since 2014.
Adding to the already complex situation, Donald Trump has indicated that the US might withdraw from mediating further Russia-Ukraine negotiations if either side creates significant hurdles to achieving a peace agreement.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it is estimated that the conflict has resulted in the deaths or injuries of hundreds of thousands across all involved parties.
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