A Russian drone strike on Wednesday morning killed nine people and injured at least 30 others in the Ukrainian city of Marhanets.
The attack targeted a bus transporting workers, causing widespread devastation in the south-central region of the country.
Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional administration, confirmed the incident and warned that the number of casualties could rise.
“The number of victims is constantly growing,” he said in a statement, as rescue workers continued to comb through the wreckage.
The strike comes amid increasing concern over Russia’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles to target civilian infrastructure.
Drones have become a deadly feature of the ongoing war, now entering its third year.
The timing of the attack is particularly significant as it coincides with a new round of international talks set to take place in London.
Diplomats from Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are meeting to discuss potential steps toward a ceasefire and lasting peace.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, the latest attack serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the violence.