Twelve Miners Fatalities from Drone Strike in Eastern Ukraine

Mon Feb 02 2026 16:02:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a tragic incident, twelve miners were killed by a Russian drone strike in eastern Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing impact of the conflict on civilian lives. This attack coincides with breaches of a ceasefire agreement meant to protect population centers during a severe cold snap.

Twelve miners in eastern Ukraine lost their lives due to a Russian drone attack while traveling in a bus from work. This incident reflects the harsh realities of the ongoing conflict, as civilian targets continue to be hit despite an agreement to refrain from such actions during extreme winter conditions. The attack also resulted in injuries to at least fifteen others.

Twelve miners have been killed by a Russian drone strike in eastern Ukraine, according to the country's largest private energy firm, DTEK. The attack occurred when a bus carrying workers after their shift was targeted in the Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday. State emergency services reported that at least 15 other individuals were injured in the incident.

This drone strike follows prior incidents where at least two others lost their lives and nine were injured due to separate Russian attacks, including an assault on a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, where six people were wounded.

The drone strikes come at a time when Russia had ostensibly agreed to a truce, which included refraining from striking population centers and energy infrastructures during a particularly harsh cold snap.

Ukrainian officials have condemned this violence, asserting that claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin of a commitment to peace negotiations are undermined by ongoing aggressions against civilians. The attacks raise questions about the effectiveness of current diplomacy amidst a backdrop of continued hostilities and civilian hardships.

Furthermore, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that upcoming peace talks involving Russian, Ukrainian, and US officials will be rescheduled, reflecting the complexities of negotiations in the face of persistent violence. As the situation evolves, Ukraine is also reportedly working with Elon Musk's SpaceX to prevent the misuse of its Starlink satellite systems in drone strikes by Russia.