Russian Drone Strikes Target Passenger Buses in Southeast Ukraine Leaving Eight Dead and Scores Injured

Russian FPV drones targeted buses and homes in Nikopol and Kherson, killing eight. President Zelenskyy calls for stronger sanctions following the latest strikes.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 6:44 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Japan Today

Targeted Drone Assaults on Public Transport

The eastern Dnipropetrovsk region became the site of a precise and lethal aerial campaign on Tuesday as Russian forces reportedly targeted civilian infrastructure. Governor Oleksandr Ganzha confirmed that two separate buses were struck by first-person-view (FPV) drones during the morning hours. In the city of Nikopol, a drone collided with a bus as it approached a central stop, while a second vehicle was attacked in a nearby community. These strikes resulted in four deaths and left at least 21 people with varying degrees of injury, marking a significant escalation in the use of small-scale loitering munitions against non-combatants.

Devastation in Residential Kherson

Simultaneously, the southern city of Kherson endured a prolonged bombardment that targeted its civilian inhabitants. Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that Russian forces conducted a relentless 30-minute assault on a residential district located less than five kilometers from the frontline. The barrage claimed the lives of four elderly residents and caused injuries to seven others. The proximity of the neighborhood to active combat zones has made it a frequent target, but officials noted the intensity of this specific attack was particularly severe given its focus on high-density living areas.

Zelenskyy’s Call for Sanction Enforcement

In response to the mounting casualties, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy utilized social media to condemn the ongoing violence and demand stricter international repercussions for Moscow. Sharing graphic images of the charred bus in Nikopol and victims lying on the pavement, the President characterized the daily loss of life as a form of terror that makes any attempt to weaken existing sanctions look bizarre. His remarks underscored a growing frustration in Kyiv regarding the international community's economic ties with Russia while civilian casualties continue to climb in the southeast.