Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region on Tuesday killed at least six people, regional officials said, following the expiry of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire.
Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched more than 200 drones overnight, effectively ending hopes that a three-day truce, which concluded on Monday, would be extended.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces had struck gas facilities in Russia’s central Orenburg region, located more than 1,500 kilometres from Ukraine’s border.
In a separate incident, a drone strike hit a residential building in Zelenskiy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, killing two people and injuring four others, including a nine-month-old infant. Officials said the child suffered severe injuries.
Regional authorities also reported that an aerial bomb attack northeast of Kryvyi Rih killed four more people and injured three others.
Ukrainian officials said intense fighting continued across the front line, with 170 combat clashes recorded in the past 24 hours. The heaviest battles were reported near Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
The brief ceasefire, linked to commemorations of the Second World War and supported by U.S.-led diplomatic efforts, had aimed to reduce hostilities, but both sides continued to accuse each other of violations during the period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had instead escalated attacks, launching hundreds of drones and targeting civilian infrastructure.
“After the end of the partial three-day ceasefire, Russia continues to kill and maim Ukrainians,” he said, calling for increased international pressure.
He also said Ukraine was working with European allies and NATO partners to develop stronger defences against ballistic missile threats.
Ukrainian officials reported damage to energy infrastructure, residential buildings, a kindergarten, and transport facilities across multiple regions, including Kyiv, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Dnipro, Kherson and Mykolaiv.
Energy disruptions and blackouts were also reported following strikes on infrastructure in southern Ukraine.
