A Russian missile strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed four people and injured 40 others, Ukrainian authorities confirmed.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that a ballistic missile may have been used in the attack, which occurred early Monday morning.
Videos circulating online showed a massive explosion near a highway, and local media reported that an office block, vehicles, and several shops were either struck directly or heavily damaged.
Dnipro, located around 100 km from the front line, has repeatedly been targeted by Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the BBC reports, according to KosovaPress.
Intense Diplomacy Ahead of U.S.–Russia Talks
The strike comes one day before U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow for discussions aimed at ending the war. Witkoff has traveled to meet the Russian leader multiple times this year, despite never visiting Kyiv—a decision widely criticized in Ukraine and Europe.
On Sunday, a Ukrainian delegation met Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Florida.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the talks were “very constructive,” though several “difficult issues” remain unresolved—echoing Rubio’s comments that the meeting was “productive” but left “more work to be done.”
These meetings are part of weeks of intensive shuttle diplomacy, with Ukrainian and Russian delegations separately engaging U.S. officials over a potential peace plan.
Major Differences Remain Between Moscow and Kyiv
Despite the diplomatic push, deep divisions remain.
Russia continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from parts of Donbas still under Ukrainian control—an ultimatum Kyiv has rejected outright.
Putin doubled down, stating: “If they do not withdraw, we will achieve this by force of arms.”
Zelensky responded sharply, accusing Russia of “despising genuine efforts to end the war.”
Key disagreements also relate to Ukraine’s future security, including NATO membership and long-term guarantees.
Ukraine and its European partners insist that credible security guarantees, including potential NATO membership, are essential to prevent future Russian aggression.
Moscow fiercely opposes any NATO path for Ukraine, and Donald Trump has also stated he would not allow Ukraine to join the alliance.
Zelensky Seeks European Support Amid U.S. Concerns
Zelensky arrived in Paris on Monday to secure support from President Emmanuel Macron, and is expected to travel to Ireland on Tuesday.
Growing unease is evident in Kyiv and across Europe that the U.S. may be shifting closer to Russia’s demands than Ukraine’s, with Europe increasingly sidelined from the negotiation table.
Ukraine’s domestic politics have also been shaken.
A major corruption scandal forced the resignation of Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who also led Kyiv’s peace delegation. His home was raided by anti-corruption investigators, though he has not been charged. Two cabinet ministers were dismissed as well.
On Sunday, Trump described Ukraine as having “some small, tough problems,” referring to the scandal, while repeating his claim that both Russia and Ukraine want to end the war.
A Devastating Conflict with No Clear End
Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed or injured, along with thousands of civilians, and at least seven million refugees have fled since Russia’s invasion on 24 February 2022.
The conflict traces back to 2014, when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted, prompting Moscow to illegally annex Crimea and back armed uprisings in eastern Ukraine—actions that laid the foundation for today’s full-scale war.
