European officials condemned a Russian drone attack that struck a busy railway station in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and 14 injuries. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the necessity for broader peace efforts beyond localized ceasefires, specifically referencing an ongoing truce in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. EU Council President António Costa characterized the strikes as “cruel and devastating” and urged increased international pressure against Russia to achieve a just and lasting peace settlement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared the railway station attack “horrific” and stated that intelligence indicated additional Russian ballistic missile preparations. Later Thursday, Russian forces launched a separate assault on Kyiv using ballistic missiles, striking warehouses and causing fires in the capital’s eastern districts, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The Dnipro attacks also damaged a student dormitory and disrupted electrical service to approximately 350,000 households across the region.
The incidents occurred as Ukraine and Russia maintained a fragile local ceasefire in Oleshky while preparing to deliver humanitarian aid to the southern city, which has endured Russian occupation since 2022 and suffered prolonged shortages of food, water, and medicine. Russian authorities announced evacuation orders for local residents Thursday, with a deadline set for later that day.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military halted strikes against Russian oil refineries following pressure from US President Donald Trump, according to reporting on Thursday. Ukrainian units received notifications mid-October that the refinery campaign would pause upon completion of already-launched missions, with the suspension expected to continue through the US midterm elections and potentially into November. Zelenskyy criticized recent sanctions relief agreements, questioning whether eased restrictions had encouraged escalated Russian aggression against Ukrainian civilians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated support for restoring relations with European nations, cautioning that prolonged conflict would produce no victors.
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