A Russian drone attack on a bus in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson resulted in the deaths of four people and left several others injured on Wednesday, according to the regional prosecutor's office. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the incident on X, sharing images of the vehicle and asserting that the bus was clearly transporting civilian passengers.
Zelenskyy condemned the strike, describing it as a vicious Russian "safari" against the people of Kherson, stating that the actions have moved beyond what any normal person could imagine. Kherson has been a frequent target for Russian forces, a pattern that Ukraine characterizes as the deliberate targeting of non-combatants. Earlier this month, officials accused Russian forces of targeting a civilian at a local market, noting that the individual in video evidence was clearly selling vegetables and fruit rather than participating in combat. Police reports indicate that Russian forces have been utilizing drones to target civilians, public transport, vehicles, and emergency workers in Kherson on a daily basis.
The attack on the minibus follows an incident last week in the Odesa region, where Russian strikes on two passenger trains resulted in two deaths and left a child injured. These events occur against a backdrop of rising civilian casualties across the country. According to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission, July 2026 saw the highest number of civilian deaths in Ukraine since May 2022. The UN reported that at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 were injured in July, representing a 30 percent increase from the previous month and a 70 percent rise compared to July 2025. Additionally, Russian authorities have reported a 121 percent increase in civilian casualties within their own territories during the first six months of 2026, citing 250 deaths and 1,596 injuries.
On Wednesday, local media reported that Russia launched 65 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine. Beyond the tragedy in Kherson, other regions faced significant impact. Governor Ivan Fedorov. In the Zaporizhzhia region, drone strikes killed two people and injured at least ten, as reported by Governor Ivan Fedorov. Meanwhile, Governor Vadym Filashkin stated that Russian attacks in the Donetsk region resulted in one death and four injuries.
