Tragic Missile Strike in Ukraine Amid Ongoing Peace Talks

Fri Dec 05 2025 11:37:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A missile attack in Dnipro kills four and injures many, highlighting ongoing conflicts even as diplomatic efforts are made to resolve the war in Ukraine.

A recent Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro resulted in four deaths and injuries to 40 others. This attack occurred as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff prepared for peace talks with President Putin. The strike underscores the challenges of reaching an agreement to end the war, with significant differences remaining between Ukraine and Russia regarding territorial claims and security guarantees. Diplomatic efforts proceed, but the aftermath of the conflict continues to claim lives and cause devastation in the region.

A Russian missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed four people and injured 40, authorities have said.

Unconfirmed reports say a ballistic missile was used in the strike, which took place on Monday morning.

Videos shared online showed a large explosion occur on the side of a motorway, and local media reported that an office block, cars, and shops were hit or badly damaged.

Dnipro, which lies around 100km (62 miles) from the front line, has frequently come under Russian attack since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The attack came a day before U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is due to meet President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Witkoff has visited the Russian president several times this year but has never been to Kyiv.

On Sunday, a Ukrainian delegation met Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Florida.

Zelensky remarked on Monday that the talks had been very constructive, yet he acknowledged some tough issues to work through, mirroring Rubio's comments about the need for ongoing effort.

The Florida meeting was part of weeks of intense shuttle diplomacy, with Ukrainian and Russian delegations engaging separately with U.S. officials to discuss a peace plan.

However, significant differences remain between the positions of Moscow and Kyiv. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the Donbas region it still holds, a condition that Kyiv firmly rejects.

President Putin stated, If they don't withdraw, we'll achieve this by force of arms, while Zelensky criticized Russia for disregarding genuine peace efforts.

Security issues regarding Ukraine's future remain contentious, with Kyiv seeking guarantees that could include NATO membership to protect against further attacks—a point Russia vehemently opposes.

Meanwhile, Zelensky has been active in seeking support from European leaders as concerns grow that the U.S. might lean more towards Russian demands in the negotiations, sidelining Europe.

In Ukraine, Zelensky faces political challenges amidst a corruption scandal that recently led to the resignation of his chief of staff following anti-corruption investigations.

Casualties have been severe throughout the conflict, which began in 2014, resulting in tens of thousands of military and civilian deaths, alongside a massive refugee crisis impacting over seven million individuals since the full invasion started in February 2022.