Ukrainian Community Mourns Miners Killed in Strike as Rescue Efforts and International Condemnation Grow

Twelve miners have been killed following a Russian drone strike in eastern Ukraine, according to the country’s largest private energy company, in an attack that has drawn renewed condemnation while also highlighting the resilience of emergency services and communities under fire.

Energy firm DTEK said a bus transporting workers home after a shift in the Dnipropetrovsk region was struck on Sunday. At least seven other people were injured in the attack and are receiving medical treatment. The company described the incident as a devastating loss for the mining community and pledged continued support for the families affected.

The attack came amid a series of Russian strikes reported overnight and on Sunday, which left at least two more people dead and nine injured elsewhere. Ukrainian officials said the incidents formed part of a wider pattern of attacks on civilian infrastructure.

In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, six people were injured when a drone hit a maternity hospital, including two women who were in labour at the time. Despite the damage, local officials said medical staff acted swiftly to protect patients and evacuate those at risk.

Posting on Telegram, Zaporizhzhia regional head Ivan Fedorov described the strike as further “proof of a war directed against life”, while praising the rapid response of emergency workers and hospital staff who ensured no fatalities were reported at the facility.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the hospital strike demonstrated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was pursuing a “war against civilians contrary to peace efforts”. He added that such attacks only strengthened Ukraine’s resolve to protect its people and continue seeking international support.

Later, Fedorov reported that three more people were injured in a separate strike on a residential area in the region, with emergency services again responding quickly to stabilise the situation and assist residents.