Russian Missiles and Drones Kill at Least Eight Civilians in Ukraine

Russian missiles and drones struck locations across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least eight civilians and injuring 35 others. A missile hit infrastructure in the central city of Dnipro, killing five people and wounding 29. Drones struck a passenger minibus in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing three people and wounding six, including a child.

Separate drone strikes killed a 69-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man in the northeastern Sumy region. Deadly attacks also occurred in at least six other regions. Some customers in eight Ukrainian regions lost power after the strikes.

Grid operator Ukrenergo said hot weather above 36 degrees Celsius drove up electricity demand as residents used air conditioners. Russian drone and missile attacks have damaged Ukraine’s energy network since the February 2022 invasion, causing tens of billions of dollars in losses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said people need greater protection from such attacks.

“Above all, we need anti-ballistic capabilities,” he stated. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday acknowledged that Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian oil facilities have caused fuel shortages. He ruled out concessions to end the invasion and said Russia would prevail despite what he called temporary setbacks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s position remains unchanged and that troops continue their offensive, adding that the effort makes Russian goals achievable. Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 209 Ukrainian drones from late Sunday through early Monday. Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 82 of the 108 drones Russia launched overnight.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the invasion began more than four years ago, according to the United Nations.