This story was updated on 2 February at 14:10 EET.
A Russian drone strike on a service bus carrying miners from the DTEK energy company in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed at least 12 people and injured 16 others, DTEK reported Sunday.
The bus was transporting workers from the Ternivska mine after their shift when it was hit around 15:45 in Pavlohrad Raion.
Feb. 2 update: Ternivka observes day of mourning today after Russian drone strike killed 12 miners and injured 16. Seven of the wounded are in serious condition, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha reported.
Officials condemn “unprovoked terrorist strike”
DTEK CEO Maksym Tymchenko described it as an “unprovoked terrorist strike on a purely civilian target” and one of the company’s darkest days since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal called the attack “cynical and deliberate.”
Second drone targeted evacuating survivors
According to Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian defense adviser, the attack involved two Shahed drones controlled via radio modems. The first drone struck near the bus, causing the driver to lose control and hit a fence, while the second drone was deliberately directed at people evacuating the vehicle.
Beskrestnov said operators in Russia “100% saw and recognized the target as civilian” before carrying out the attack.
Attack investigated as war crime
The attack is being investigated as a war crime. Rescue teams and law enforcement responded to the scene.
The attack came amid continued Russian strikes across Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Saturday. Elsewhere in the oblast, Russian forces shelled and attacked several communities with artillery and FPV drones, damaging homes, civilian buildings, and infrastructure, according to regional authorities.
