Kathmandu— At least five people were killed and eleven others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine on Wednesday, with the heaviest toll coming from a drone strike on a bus in the frontline city of Kherson. Authorities report increased civilian deaths throughout this year, while Russia claims to have downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight. The conflict, now entering its fifth year, continues despite stalled peace talks.

Kherson Bus Attack

A Russian drone attack on a bus in Kherson killed at least four people and wounded four others around 8:50am local time (05:50 GMT) Wednesday. Kherson regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin shared blurred photos of the damaged vehicle, showing bloodied steps and shattered windows via Telegram, adding that the injured had been transported to a hospital. Russian forces have regularly targeted Kherson with drones since withdrawing from the city in November 2022, an action Ukraine claims deliberately targets civilians.

Zaporizhzhia and Black Sea Strikes

In addition to the attack on Kherson, one person was killed and seven injured in Russia’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov reported that Russian drones struck the regional capital, damaging both residential and nonresidential buildings and sparking a fire. Separately, Russian forces reportedly struck a cargo vessel in the Black Sea near Odesa, claiming it carried military cargo.

Drone Attacks Inside Russia

While Ukraine was under attack, Russian territory also experienced drone activity. Authorities in Ufa, in the republic of Bashkortostan, reported a small fire after a drone fell in an industrial area. Another drone struck an apartment building and several cars in Ufa, injuring one person, according to the region’s head Radiy Khabirov.

The United Nations has documented a rise in civilian deaths this year, with 437 killed in Ukraine last month alone – the highest monthly toll since May 2022. Efforts to negotiate an end to the four-and-a-half-year conflict remain stalled.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.