Russian Attack On Dnipro Kills 2 Women, Injures At Least 16

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 17, 2025

A Russian drone attack killed young woman and an elderly woman and injured at least 16 others on April 16 in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, the regional governor said.

Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said on Telegram that among the16 people injured were three children. Five people were being treated in hospital, he said.

The attack ignited several fires, according to Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov, who said one strike came within 100 meters of the city's municipal offices. He also said at least 15 dwellings had been damaged along with a student residence, an educational institution, and a food processing plant.

Pictures posted online showed a large blaze and firefighters working at the scene as well as gutted vehicles and buildings with smashed windows and damaged facades.

It was not possible for RFE/RL to verify the claims.

In northeastern Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said a Russian missile attack injured two people in the town of Izyum. The town was captured by Russian troops in the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 but was retaken by Ukrainian forces later in the year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with defense industry representatives in Kyiv on April 16. He said Ukraine now produces 40 percent of the weapons used on the front line.

"Our defense industry is already manufacturing more than a thousand types of weapons: from artillery shells to missiles and long-range weapons, to our drones," Zelenskyy said during the meeting, according to his office.

Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine's growing defense sector now employs around 300,000 people and is attracting an increasing number of international partners. Domestic successes include the rapid rollout of new combat drones, artillery production, and Ukraine's own missile systems. Though the items currently are in limited quantities.

Despite the progress, Zelenskyy acknowledged Ukraine remains heavily reliant on foreign arms deliveries, including tanks, armored vehicles, and advanced air defense systems.

Last week, he proposed a $15 billion deal to the US for 10 Patriot air defense systems to bolster Ukraine's protection against Russian missile strikes.

The Ukrainian parliament has voted to extend martial law and the mobilization order by another 90 days. The two corresponding motions submitted by Zelenskyy received the required two-thirds majority. Once signed by Zelenskyy, martial law will apply until August 6. It was due to expire on May 9.

Former President Petro Poroshenko, who is Zelenskyy's main rival, accused the government of rushing the extension through parliament.

Martial law is "being used not only for the defense of the country, but also for the establishment of an authoritarian regime," Poroshenko claimed on social media.

The Ukrainian government first imposed martial law and ordered mobilization following Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

There has been speculation that Zelenskyy could call elections, which cannot be held under martial law. Conscripts aged between 18 and 60 are barred from leaving the country under the law.

With reporting by Reuters and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-dnipro- drone-attack-zelenskyy-defense-production/33387952.html

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Russian Attack On Dnipro Kills 2 Women, Injures At Least 16