Tragic Missile Strike in Dnipro Kills Four as Peace Talks Continue

Tue Dec 02 2025 20:35:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A missile attack in Dnipro has led to four fatalities and numerous injuries, coinciding with ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

On December 1, a missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, claimed four lives and injured 40 individuals. The attack, which reportedly involved a ballistic missile, inflicted significant damage on local infrastructure. This tragic event unfolded just ahead of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's anticipated discussions with President Putin aimed at brokering peace. Despite ongoing negotiations, major differences between Ukraine and Russia persist, particularly concerning territorial claims and security guarantees.

A Russian missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed four people and injured 40, authorities have said. Unconfirmed reports indicate that a ballistic missile was used in the strike, which occurred on Monday morning. Videos shared online depicted a large explosion along a motorway, with local media stating that an office building, vehicles, and shops sustained considerable damage.

Dnipro, located approximately 100 km (62 miles) from the frontline, has been subjected to regular Russian assaults since the onset of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The attack transpired a day before U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was set to meet President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine. Witkoff has met with the Russian president multiple times this year but has not yet visited Kyiv.

Subsequently, a Ukrainian delegation convened with Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner, former President Trump's son-in-law, in Florida on Sunday.

President Zelensky commented on Monday that the discussions had been 'very constructive,' noting the presence of 'tough issues' to address. This sentiment echoed Rubio's remarks about a 'productive' meeting, albeit with 'more work to be done.'

This Florida meeting marked the latest advancement in weeks of intensive 'shuttle diplomacy,' during which Ukrainian and Russian representatives separately engaged with U.S. officials to discuss a peace framework.

However, significant divergences continue to exist between the stances of Moscow and Kyiv. Russia has declined to relent on its primary demand for Ukraine to withdraw from territories it still occupies in the Donbas region, which Kyiv has firmly stated it will not concede.

'If they don't withdraw, we'll achieve this by force of arms,' asserted Putin, while Zelensky criticized Russia for disregarding efforts to genuinely conclude the conflict.

Additional contentious matters include security arrangements regarding Ukraine's future. Ukraine, along with its European allies, seeks security guarantees—such as potential NATO membership—to protect the nation from future aggressions, a point vehemently opposed by Russia and similarly dismissed by Trump.

Meanwhile, Zelensky arrived in Paris to garner support from French President Emmanuel Macron and is scheduled to visit Ireland on Tuesday. Concerns have mounted in Kyiv and among European allies that the U.S. may be leaning more towards Russia’s positions than those of Ukraine and that Europe is being sidelined from the negotiation process.

Politically, Zelensky has faced challenges at home due to a corruption scandal, resulting in the resignation of his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who had led Ukrainian negotiators—although he has not been personally implicated in any wrongdoing. Several cabinet ministers have also been dismissed.

On Sunday, Trump suggested that Ukraine was grappling with 'difficult small problems,' while reiterating his belief that both Russia and Ukraine are interested in terminating the conflict.

Since Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, tens of thousands of soldiers and numerous civilians have died or been injured, and at least seven million individuals have become refugees.

The prolonged conflict traces back to 2014 when political upheaval in Ukraine culminated in the ousting of a pro-Russian president, prompting Russia to annex Crimea and support separatist movements in eastern Ukraine.