By Our Correspondent

National News – A Russian drone attack struck a busy market in southern Ukraine’s Nikopol on Saturday morning, killing five people and injuring 21 others, including a 14-year-old girl, the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office reported.

The attack occurred at 09:50 local time (06:50 GMT) near the Dnipro River, directly across from Russian-occupied territory.

Images from the scene show destroyed kiosks, shattered glass, and scattered food debris. Authorities are investigating the strike as a possible war crime.

Nikopol, a town of roughly 100,000, has frequently been targeted during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and almost half of its residents had previously fled for safety.

The recent attack hit during peak market hours, contributing to the high casualty count. A second strike in the same location left two men injured.

Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched nearly 300 drones overnight, with additional strikes affecting Kharkiv in the northeast and Sumy in the north.

Moscow stated it had shot down 85 Ukrainian drones, while a separate Ukrainian strike on the Russian city of Taganrog killed at least one and injured four, according to Russian authorities.

Ukraine also reported drone attacks on industrial facilities linked to Russia’s military operations.

Production at the Alchevsk metallurgical plant in occupied Luhansk was halted after damage to blast furnaces and key production areas.

Similarly, a plant in Togliatti producing synthetic rubber and petrochemical materials was heavily targeted.

President Volodymyr Zelensky offered Russia a truce for Easter, which Moscow ignored, while major daytime attacks by Russian forces continue to increase.

This escalation comes as US-led peace efforts stall, with the US recently prioritizing Middle East conflicts.

The strikes underline the ongoing risks faced by civilians and the heightened use of drones and missiles in the war.