At least 17 people lost their lives and more than 100 were injured after a series of Russian missile strikes targeted southeastern Ukraine on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attacks caused widespread destruction in the Dnipropetrovsk region, hitting civilian infrastructure including schools, hospitals, and even a passenger train.
Three additional deaths, including that of a young child, were reported in a separate drone strike on the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine.
The rare daylight assault coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival in the Netherlands for a NATO summit, where he is expected to meet with several European leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss ongoing military support and potential new sanctions on Russia.
In a statement shared on social media, President Zelensky condemned the strikes, accusing Russian forces of showing "utter disregard for human life." He emphasized that supporting Ukraine is synonymous with defending humanity and thanked international allies for their continued assistance.
Emergency responders in the Dnipropetrovsk region released harrowing images of wounded civilians being pulled from rubble and receiving medical attention. Although no fatalities occurred aboard the passenger train, video footage captured by a commuter revealed the terrifying moment of impact, showing passengers bloodied and shaken by the blast. Local officials confirmed that the explosion was caused by a nearby ballistic missile strike.
The Dnipropetrovsk region, a key industrial area, has seen intensified military pressure in recent weeks, with Russian forces making limited advances and claiming to have established a presence in certain border zones. However, Ukrainian military officials report that they have successfully pushed back several of these incursions.
In Sumy, regional military head Oleh Hryhorov described the tragic aftermath of a drone strike that hit a residential neighborhood, killing residents who were asleep in their homes. Among the victims was a five-year-old boy found beneath the debris. Hryhorov stated that entire families were affected, emphasizing the human cost of the ongoing conflict.
Further casualties were confirmed in the town of Samar, near the regional capital Dnipro, where two people were killed in another missile attack.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately escalating attacks to disrupt international diplomatic efforts. The timing of the latest strikes—coinciding with President Zelensky’s NATO meetings—has been interpreted by Ukrainian officials as an attempt to undermine peace negotiations and prolong hostilities.
Just last week, a similar wave of Russian missile attacks preceded a planned meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the G7 summit in Canada. That offensive resulted in more than 30 deaths and significant damage across the country.
Although recent direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul led to limited agreements regarding the exchange of prisoners and the repatriation of fallen soldiers, no further diplomatic progress has been made.