Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Russian Drone Strike on Ukrainian Bus Kills Five, Zelenskyy Says
A passenger minibus in Ukraine was reportedly hit by a Russian drone.
Five people died and seven people were hurt.
The incident happened near the city of Nikopol on Wednesday morning.
Ukraine’s president said the injured people were taken to doctors.
A passenger train traveling to Mykolaiv was also attacked.
People on that train were warned and moved to safety, so nobody on the train was reported killed.
Ukraine says Russia attacked several other regions as well.
Ukraine also says its soldiers regained some territory in Donetsk.
Russia has not publicly answered the latest claims about the attacks.
A Russian FPV drone reportedly struck an intercity passenger minibus near Nikopol on Wednesday, killing five people and injuring seven.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the injured passengers were taken for medical treatment.
A Kyiv-to-Mykolaiv passenger train was also reportedly attacked, but about 170 passengers were evacuated safely.
The railway attack damaged a station and locomotive in the Mykolaiv region, while another locomotive was hit in Kovel.
Ukraine also reported territorial gains in northern Donetsk, while Russia has not publicly responded to the latest strike claims.
- Who
- Five minibus passengers were killed and seven were injured, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Ukrainian forces and Russian forces were also involved in the reported fighting.
- What
- A reported Russian FPV drone strike hit a passenger minibus, while separate attacks damaged railway infrastructure and a passenger train.
- When
- Wednesday, with the minibus strike occurring early in the morning.
- Where
- Near Nikopol in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region; additional railway damage was reported in the Mykolaiv and Volyn regions.
- Why
- The strikes were reported amid a fresh escalation in fighting between Russia and Ukraine; the article does not state a specific reason for the bus or railway attacks.
Ukraine’s Account
Russia’s Position
Reported strikes
Ukraine’s Account
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian authorities said a Russian drone struck a passenger minibus, killing five, and that Russian forces attacked railway infrastructure in several regions.
Russia’s Position
Russia had not publicly responded to Zelenskyy’s claims about the latest strikes at the time of the report.
Energy ceasefire
Ukraine’s Account
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to support a halt to attacks on energy facilities if the United States could establish that Russia was genuinely ready to stop the war.
Russia’s Position
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the proposal a very good idea but said a broader arrangement was needed, including measures related to fuel prices, shipping, navigation and sanctions.
Battlefield developments
Ukraine’s Account
Ukraine’s Brigadier-General Andrii Biletskyi said Ukrainian troops had cleared Russian infiltration groups from about 75 square kilometers and retaken another 10 square kilometers in northern Donetsk.
Russia’s Position
The article does not provide a Russian response to Ukraine’s reported territorial gains.
- Deaths
- Five people were reported killed in the minibus strike.
- Injuries
- Seven people were reported injured and taken for medical treatment.
- Weapon
- The minibus was reportedly hit by an FPV drone.
- Train
- Train No. 122 was traveling from Kyiv to Mykolaiv when it came under attack.
- Evacuation
- Nearly 170 train passengers were moved to safety after an advance warning.
- Territorial claims
- Ukraine said it cleared Russian infiltration groups from about 75 square kilometers and retook another 10 square kilometers in northern Donetsk.
- Ceasefire proposal
- Moscow called a proposed halt to attacks on energy infrastructure a very good idea, while Ukraine said it was prepared to support it if Russia was genuinely ready.