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Russian missile strike on Dnipro kills four, injures 40
A Russian missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed at least four people and wounded 40 others on Monday morning, local authorities reported. Preliminary accounts suggest a ballistic missile struck near a motorway, damaging an office building, vehicles, and nearby shops.
Footage circulating online captured the moment of impact, showing a massive explosion along the roadside. Dnipro, located roughly 100 km (62 miles) from the front lines, has faced repeated Russian strikes since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Attack precedes high-stakes US-Russia talks
The strike occurred a day before US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for discussions aimed at ending the war. Witkoff, who has held multiple meetings with Putin this year, has not yet visited Kyiv.
Over the weekend, a Ukrainian delegation met with Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner-Donald Trump's son-in-law-in Florida. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as "very constructive" but acknowledged "tough issues" remained unresolved. Rubio echoed this sentiment, calling the meeting "productive" while stressing that "more work to be done."
Diplomatic deadlock persists
The Florida gathering marked the latest phase in weeks of intensive "shuttle diplomacy," with Ukrainian and Russian representatives separately engaging US officials to explore a potential peace framework. Despite these efforts, fundamental disagreements endure.
Russia continues to demand Ukraine's withdrawal from contested areas of the Donbas region-a condition Kyiv categorically rejects. "If they don't withdraw, we'll achieve this by force of arms," Putin declared in recent remarks. Zelensky countered that Moscow had "scorned" genuine efforts "to truly end the war."
Security guarantees and NATO divide remain sticking points
Ukraine and its European allies are pushing for robust security assurances-including potential NATO membership-to deter future aggression. However, Russia fiercely opposes this prospect, and Donald Trump has likewise ruled out Ukraine's admission to the alliance.
Meanwhile, Zelensky arrived in Paris on Monday to secure backing from French President Emmanuel Macron before traveling to Ireland on Tuesday. Growing unease in Kyiv and across Europe suggests the US may be leaning toward concessions favoring Russia, sidelining European input in negotiations.
Political turbulence in Kyiv amid corruption scandal
Zelensky's government has faced internal upheaval following a corruption scandal. Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, who led Ukraine's peace delegation, resigned Friday after anti-corruption investigators raided his home-though no charges have been filed. Two cabinet ministers were also dismissed.
On Sunday, Trump remarked aboard Air Force One that Ukraine had "some difficult little problems," alluding to the scandal, and reiterated his belief that "both Russia and Ukraine want to end the war."
Human toll mounts as conflict enters fourth year
The war, which escalated with Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has claimed tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, while displacing over seven million refugees. The roots of the conflict trace back to 2014, when Ukraine's pro-Russian president was ousted, prompting Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatist uprisings in eastern Ukraine.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."
Catalan Water Agency
