Russian Drone Strike Kills 12 Miners on Bus in Eastern Ukraine

A Russian drone strike killed 12 miners riding a bus home from work in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday. The attack happened near the town of Pavlohrad, where the workers had just finished their shift at a local mine. Seven other miners were hurt in the blast.

Background

The war between Russia and Ukraine entered its fourth year this month. Fighting has spread across the east and south of the country. Miners in Dnipropetrovsk have kept working despite the dangers. They help power Ukraine's grid, which has faced heavy damage from Russian attacks over the past year.

Russia has hit energy sites many times. These strikes left millions without heat or lights during winter. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia agreed to pause attacks on energy targets until Sunday. Ukraine said it would do the same. But the bus strike shows the fighting goes on.

Hours before the attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for new peace talks. The meetings are set for February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi. They will include Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. The first round in late January did not solve big issues like land control in the east.

Ukraine's energy system is weak now. A grid problem on Saturday cut power to parts of Kyiv and beyond. Nearly 700 buildings in the capital had no heat on Sunday. Workers fixed most issues, but more cold weather is coming. Temperatures could drop to minus 68 degrees Fahrenheit in some spots by Monday.

Key Details

The bus was taking miners from a DTEK mine in Ternivka. DTEK is Ukraine's largest private energy company. The workers were civilians, not soldiers. First Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called the strike cynical and aimed right at them.

Other Strikes on Sunday

Russia hit other places too. In Dnipro, a drone killed two people in a house. In Zaporizhzhia, strikes wounded nine at a maternity hospital and in a neighborhood. Fires broke out at the hospital, but firefighters put them out. Two women and a four-year-old boy got checked by doctors.

Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov said the hospital hit shows Russia targets life itself. A local woman, Daria Makarenko, stood by her damaged neighbor's home. She spoke through tears about the attacks.

"We're not hitting energy, but we can destroy people? How can that be? Why are innocent people to blame?" – Daria Makarenko, Zaporizhzhia resident

Zelenskyy said Russia attacked rail lines and power grids near the front. He did not say they broke the energy pause deal outright. Ukraine brought in record power imports this month to stay stable.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets noted the bus strike as one of many brutal hits that day. Miners keep going to work to support the country. But the roads to the mines are risky.

In Kyiv, a 65-year-old veteran named Anatoliy Veresenko ran in a park despite the cold. He said talks are fine, but Ukraine must fight on.

"Talks are talks. We hope for peace, but we still need to fight and secure victory." – Anatoliy Veresenko, Kyiv resident

What This Means

The miner deaths raise questions about safety for key workers. Energy staff are vital as Ukraine heads into more cold days. Without them, blackouts could worsen. The strike came right as the short pause on energy hits ended.

Peace talks offer a slim chance to ease the war. But Russia wants Ukraine to give up eastern land. Kyiv says no. Slow Russian gains on the ground make it hard for Ukraine to bargain from strength.

U.S. pressure grows on Kyiv to deal. Trump pushed for the pause and now these meetings. Ukraine imports power and aid to hold on. But each strike like this one chips away at daily life.

People in cities like Kyiv bundle up and wait for heat. In the east, families mourn workers who just wanted to get home. The bus attack reminds everyone the war hits ordinary routes. Mines stay open because power keeps homes running. But at what cost?

Zelenskyy called the talks a step to real discussion. Russia has not said much yet. The cold snap tests Ukraine's grid right now. If strikes pick up, heating could fail across more areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said repairs are racing ahead in Kyiv. Ukrenergo plans outages to save power. Every day brings new risks for miners and others near the fight.

The bus in Pavlohrad carried men heading to families. Now 12 are gone, seven fight injuries. This loss adds to thousands in the war. Talks in Abu Dhabi may shift things, or not. For now, Ukraine digs coal and hopes for light.