Seventeen killed and over 100 wounded in Dnipropetrovsk as Russia escalates attacks during NATO summit; Ukraine accuses Moscow of deliberate sabotage of diplomacy.
A wave of Russian missile strikes tore through southeastern Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least 17 people and wounding more than 100, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and even a passenger train in the Dnipropetrovsk region, marking one of the deadliest daytime assaults in recent months.
The attacks coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival in the Netherlands for a NATO summit, intensifying the symbolism of Russia’s timing. On social media, Zelensky condemned the strike as evidence of “complete disregard for life,” urging the international community to stand with Ukraine. “This is not a fight where it’s hard to choose a side,” he wrote. “Standing with Ukraine means defending life.”
In the northeastern city of Sumy, three additional people—including a toddler—were killed in separate Russian attacks. In Samar, near the regional capital of Dnipro, two more lives were lost. The emotional toll continues to grow, with Ukraine’s emergency services publishing harrowing images of bloodied civilians being rescued from rubble-strewn streets.
While no one was killed on the train in Dnipropetrovsk, dramatic footage captured the terrifying moment of impact, showing passengers thrown by the blast of a nearby ballistic missile. The regional military administration confirmed the train was damaged by the shockwave from the explosion.
The Russian missile strikes come amid growing threats in Dnipropetrovsk, where small Russian units have recently crossed the border. Moscow claims to have gained a foothold in the industrial region, although Ukrainian military sources insist they’ve successfully repelled advancing forces.
In Sumy, local military head Oleh Hryhorov recounted the heartbreaking scene of a five-year-old boy pulled from the rubble. “They went to sleep in their homes,” he said. “But the Russian drones interrupted their sleep — forever.”
Zelensky is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit to discuss additional military support and new sanctions targeting Russia. Ukrainian officials argue that the timing of the strikes—like previous barrages before high-level diplomatic meetings—is a calculated move by Moscow to undermine peace talks and prolong the war.
Just last week, on the eve of anticipated talks at the G7 summit in Canada, Russia launched another barrage that left more than 30 dead and pounded Kyiv for nine hours. Although a recent round of direct negotiations in Istanbul yielded limited results—only an agreement on prisoner exchanges—no further talks have been scheduled.
With civilian casualties rising and peace efforts stalling, the impact of every Russian missile strike is being felt not just on the ground, but also in diplomatic corridors worldwide.