Nine Killed in Drone Attack on Minibus in Russian-Occupied Luhansk

Authorities in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine reported that a drone attack on a minibus resulted in the deaths of at least nine people and injured six others. Leonid Pasichnyk, the governor appointed by Moscow, shared the casualty figures via the Telegram messaging app.

The incident occurred in the Luhansk Oblast, a territory that Russia claims as its own following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While Russia exercises control over significant portions of eastern and southern Ukraine, Luhansk is considered almost entirely under Russian occupation.

In a related development, local media outlets indicated that Ukraine launched a missile attack targeting the city of Donetsk, located in the adjacent Donetsk region, which is also under Russian occupation. Reports mentioned four to five explosions in the city, and video footage circulating on social media depicted a large plume of smoke rising into the sky. Information regarding potential casualties from the Donetsk attack was not immediately available.

Ukraine has been engaged in a defensive effort against Russia's invasion for over four years, supported by military aid from Western allies. The conflict has seen various forms of attacks, with recent reports suggesting an increase in Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian railway infrastructure.