At least 11 people have been killed and over 160 injured following a series of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed today Tuesday, June 24.
The attacks, described as among the most intense in recent months, targeted several cities including Dnipro and Samar, causing widespread destruction to civilian infrastructure and public services.
The death toll is expected to rise as emergency crews continue rescue operations.
In a national address, President Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as “another brutal blow to civilian life.”
He revealed that dozens of residential buildings, 34 educational institutions, eight healthcare facilities, and even a passenger train traveling from Odesa to Zaporizhzhia were damaged in the bombardment.
The train, carrying about 500 passengers, had five of its cars destroyed, though no fatalities were reported. All injured passengers received prompt medical attention.
“This is not just a war against Ukraine—it is a war against life itself,” Zelenskyy said, urging the international community to tighten sanctions and dismantle the foreign supply networks enabling Russia’s weapons production.
He emphasized that Russia depends on external components and expertise to manufacture ballistic missiles and other advanced military hardware.
Dnipro’s mayor, Borys Filatov, described the missile assault as one of the most severe the city has experienced since the beginning of the war.
Regional authorities confirmed that at least eight people died in Dnipro alone, with more than 150 injured—12 of them in critical condition. In the nearby city of Samar, two more deaths and 11 injuries were reported.
Among the victims were three children aged five months, two years, and six years, who suffered injuries including shrapnel wounds, blast trauma, and contusions.
Several of the injured are still undergoing treatment at hospitals, while others have been discharged.
The strikes have prompted renewed calls for increased military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
As search and rescue teams work tirelessly in the aftermath, the full scope of the damage is still being assessed.
