Kyiv: A large-scale Russian drone assault on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro late Friday left four people dead and 19 others injured, according to regional authorities. The attack ignited a massive fire that engulfed a hotel and restaurant complex, along with several other buildings, intensifying the humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict.
Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, confirmed the fatalities and injuries, warning that the casualty figures could rise as emergency responders comb through the affected areas. “A high-rise apartment building and nearly ten private homes were set ablaze due to the attack. Firefighters managed to contain the fire at the hotel complex,” Lysak stated on Telegram.
The attack involved over 20 drones targeting Dnipro, the governor added, noting that Ukrainian air defenses had successfully intercepted and downed most of them. “It is also now known that the enemy directed more than 20 drones toward the city. Most of them were downed,” Lysak reported.
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Dramatic images and videos shared on social media depicted towering flames and thick smoke rising into the night sky. Other footage revealed the interior devastation of a building, extensive damage to the upper floors of a high-rise apartment block, and streets littered with shattered glass and debris from the explosion.
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Independent verification by the international news agency Reuters confirmed the authenticity of the attack’s location and timing, underscoring the severity of the strike.