A Russian drone strike hit a crowded market in southern Ukraine on Saturday morning, killing at least five people and injuring 21 others, according to local officials. The attack occurred in the town of Myrne, a frequent target in recent months due to its proximity to front-line fighting.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, where burning stalls and scattered debris marked the impact zone. “This was a deliberate strike on civilians,” said a regional police spokesperson who requested anonymity due to security protocols. “The market was full of people buying groceries when the explosion happened.”
Analysts note the attack follows Russia’s intensified campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure and population centers. “These strikes aim to demoralize civilians and stretch Ukraine’s air defenses,” said a Kyiv-based security analyst quoted by Ukraine’s UNIAN news agency.
The incident coincides with stalled U.S. military aid to Ukraine and renewed Russian offensives in the east. Military observers warn that without additional air defense systems, such attacks may increase in frequency.