Russian shelling kills seven in Ukrainian market, clouding Abu Dhabi talks | Russia-Ukraine war News
Russian Shelling Claims Lives in Eastern Ukraine Amid Peace Talks
DROUZHKIVKA, Ukraine — Russian forces shelled the eastern city of Druzhkivka on Wednesday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people at a busy market, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported. The attack, which utilized cluster munitions, occurred during peak hours, according to local officials.
In addition to the fatalities, 15 individuals sustained injuries, with the oldest victim being 81 years old. Filashkin stated that separate aerial bombings by Russian military forces targeted the city, causing damage to several homes and other structures.
These assaults coincided with U.S.-brokered negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials taking place in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian officials expressed outrage, accusing Moscow of violating a recent commitment to cease attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Filashkin condemned the attacks as “another targeted war crime,” asserting that Russian claims of pursuing a truce are untrustworthy.
Additional Russian strikes also targeted the central Dnipropetrovsk region, resulting in the deaths of a 68-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man in a residential area, while the southern city of Odesa reported damage to approximately 20 residential buildings.
On the ground, Russian forces claimed to have gained control over the eastern settlements of Staroukrainka and Stepanivka, contributing to a prolonged military advance that Moscow hopes will strengthen its negotiating position.
European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for exploiting the ongoing negotiations while maintaining an offensive against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, stating, “Putin can end this war right now, but he shows no signs of wanting to do so.”
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Western allies to increase their military support and apply economic and political pressure on Moscow to cease its invasion.
