Russia kills 12 Ukrainian miners in bus attack after talks postponed.

Deadly Drone Strike on Ukrainian Miners

A Russian drone strike targeted a bus carrying miners in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people. Initially reported as 12 fatalities by Ukrainian emergency services, the toll rose to 15, marking one of the deadliest attacks on energy workers since the onset of the war. The bus was transporting employees of DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy firm, after their shift ended. The incident occurred approximately 40 miles from the front line in central and eastern Ukraine, with at least seven workers injured and a fire sparked by the impact, which was later extinguished by emergency crews.

DTEK’s Condemnation and Impact

A DTEK spokesperson described the strike as a targeted terrorist attack on civilian infrastructure, emphasizing it as a crime against critical facilities. DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko called it the company’s single largest loss of life since Russia’s full-scale invasion, labeling it an unprovoked assault on a purely civilian target with no justification. He referred to the event as one of the darkest days in the company’s history and stated that DTEK teams are collaborating with emergency services to provide care and support to the injured and grieving families, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered.

Postponement of Peace Talks

The attack occurred just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the postponement of a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Originally anticipated for Sunday, the trilateral discussions involving Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. were rescheduled for February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi, following a surprise meeting in Florida between U.S. and Russian envoys. Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s readiness for substantive talks aimed at achieving a real and dignified end to the war, noting that the delay was mutually agreed upon by all parties.

Escalating Russian Aerial Campaigns

Zelenskyy condemned the drone strike as a deliberate attack on civilians and warned of Russia’s intensifying aerial offensives against civilian and logistical targets. Over the past week, Russia has deployed more than 980 attack drones, nearly 1,100 guided aerial bombs, and two missiles against Ukraine, aiming to disrupt logistics and connectivity between cities. This surge comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, with U.S. accusations of Russia’s dangerous escalation during peace negotiations, as Ukraine races to bolster its air defenses in anticipation of further strikes.