Escalation in Ukraine: Truce Ends with Deadly Attacks

Russian forces launched renewed attacks in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing at least six people, following the expiry of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire. Ukrainian officials reported that over 200 drones were deployed by Russia overnight, crushing hopes for an extension of the truce, initially linked to the WWII victory anniversary.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy disclosed that Ukrainian forces retaliated by targeting gas facilities in Russia's Orenburg region. A drone attack claimed two lives and injured four, including a nine-month-old, in Zelenskiy's hometown Kryvyi Rih. Describing the strike as "cynical", Zelenskiy appealed for sustained international pressure on Russia.

Negotiations for a continued ceasefire crumbled, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noting Russia's intensified targeting of civilian infrastructure. The renewed hostilities affected several regions, causing significant damage to energy facilities and residential areas, and led to blackouts in the Mykolaiv region.

(With inputs from agencies.)