A Russian drone strike killed at least 12 miners in eastern Ukraine on Sunday, officials reported, underscoring the continued brutality of the conflict even as temporary pauses were announced. The attack targeted a bus carrying workers from a DTEK mine, with several others injured in the assault.
The incident occurred in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where a bus transporting miners after their shift was hit by an enemy drone. According to Ukrainian authorities and DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy firm, the strike took place in the town of Ternivka, leaving a trail of destruction and casualties. Initial reports had varied, but officials later confirmed at least 12 fatalities and multiple injuries, with emergency services responding to the scene.
This was not an isolated attack on Sunday. Earlier in the day, a separate drone strike hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, injuring at least six people, including two women giving birth. Regional head Ivan Fedorov condemned the attack as evidence of a war directed against life. Additionally, strikes in Dnipro killed a man and a woman, while other regions reported injuries from shelling.
The violence comes against the backdrop of a cold snap that had prompted a temporary reduction in strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt aerial attacks on cities like Kyiv during the freezing weather, but the Kremlin did not explicitly link the pause to climate conditions. Instead, Moscow suggested it was to facilitate peace negotiations scheduled for this week.
Peace talks mediated by the United States are set to resume in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday, with key issues including territorial disputes. Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including much of the Donbas region, and is demanding further concessions. Ukraine, however, is reluctant to cede ground, fearing it would embolden future aggression.
The attack on the miners’ bus has drawn international condemnation, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha accusing Putin of pursuing a war against civilians. The strike also highlights the targeting of critical infrastructure and civilian areas, a tactic that has persisted throughout the nearly four-year conflict. DTEK’s operations are crucial for Ukraine’s energy supply, and such attacks undermine the country’s resilience.
In response to the escalation, Ukraine is collaborating with SpaceX to prevent Russian use of Starlink satellite systems for drone attacks. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the urgency of diplomatic efforts, noting that talks might face delays due to broader geopolitical tensions, such as those between the U.S. and Iran.
As temperatures are forecast to plunge below -20°C, civilians brace for further hardships amid ongoing strikes. The international community watches closely, with hopes that the upcoming negotiations might yield a breakthrough, but the persistent violence suggests a long and difficult road ahead for peace in Ukraine.
