A Russian drone strike on a bus carrying miners killed at least 12 people in Ukraine’s south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrainian officials reported on Sunday. This tragic event unfolded just hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new peace talks, amidst ongoing uncertainty over Russia’s suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure.
First Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal condemned the attack as a “cynical and targeted” assault on energy workers. The bus was reportedly traveling approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the frontline, according to local police.
Peace Talks Rescheduled Amid Continued Hostilities
The announcement of the drone strike coincided with the postponement of a second round of peace talks between Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials. Initially scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the discussions have been deferred to Wednesday and Thursday. President Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s readiness for “substantive” talks, though he did not provide a reason for the delay. Neither Moscow nor the US confirmed the new dates.
Meanwhile, Russia has persisted in its military operations against Ukraine, complicating the peace process. An earlier drone attack in the central city of Dnipro resulted in the deaths of a man and a woman, as reported by Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the regional military administration. Additionally, a drone strike on a maternity hospital in the southern Zaporizhzhia region wounded at least seven people, including two women undergoing medical examinations.
Energy Infrastructure Under Siege
The Kremlin announced on Friday that it had agreed to halt strikes on energy infrastructure until Sunday, following a request from former US President Donald Trump. Kyiv responded with a reciprocal agreement, stating that the suspension was intended to last until the following Friday. Despite this, President Zelenskyy noted on Sunday that Russian forces were attacking railway infrastructure and other logistical targets. He also mentioned assaults on the power grid in cities across the Dnipro River from the frontline, though he stopped short of accusing Russia of violating the energy ceasefire.
Amid these developments, Ukraine is grappling with a severe cold snap, with temperatures plummeting to minus 15°C (5°F) on Sunday and expected to drop further to well below minus 20°C in Kyiv on Monday. Grid operator Ukrenergo announced that planned outages would be enforced across the entire country.
International Support and Strategic Gains
Ukraine’s defense minister expressed gratitude towards Elon Musk after the billionaire’s efforts to prevent Russia from using Starlink satellites for drone attacks appeared successful. “The first steps are already delivering real results… Thank you for standing with us,” said Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Sunday. “You are a true champion of freedom and a true friend of the Ukrainian people.”
In a parallel development, Russian forces claimed control over the village of Zelene in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and the settlement of Sukhetske in the Donetsk region. The Russian state news agency Tass quoted the defense ministry as stating that Russian forces targeted transport infrastructure facilities utilized by the Ukrainian army.
Global Reactions and Demonstrations
In a show of solidarity, tens of thousands of Czechs rallied in Prague on Sunday to support the country’s pro-Ukrainian president. The president is currently embroiled in a dispute with the government’s nationalist billionaire leader, Andrej Babis. Organizers from the independent Million Moments for Democracy movement claimed that up to 90,000 people attended the demonstration, with participants waving Czech, European, and Ukrainian flags.
This development highlights the international dimension of the conflict, as nations and individuals continue to express support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing struggle. The rescheduled peace talks, if successful, could mark a significant step towards resolving the conflict, though challenges remain as hostilities persist on the ground.
