Russian Attacks Claim Six Lives Across Ukraine on January 29, Minibus Attack in Kherson Kills One on January 30

Escalation of Violence Claims Civilian Lives

Russian forces conducted a series of attacks across central and southern Ukraine on January 29, resulting in the deaths of six civilians and injuring at least 26 others. The fatalities were reported in multiple regions, highlighting the widespread impact of the ongoing conflict.

The following day, January 30, a separate incident in the southern city of Kherson saw a minibus shelled, leading to one death and five injuries.

January 29 Attacks: A Regional Breakdown

On January 29, the attacks spanned several Ukrainian regions:

• In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, a drone attack claimed the lives of three people: a 62-year-old man, a 26-year-old woman, and a 50-year-old woman.
• The neighboring Kherson region experienced bombardment that killed two individuals, identified as a 46-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman.
• An attack on Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, resulted in the death of one elderly woman.

Beyond the fatalities, the central Dnipropetrovsk region also reported two people injured in the overnight strikes. Overall, authorities indicated that at least 26 people were injured across Ukraine from Russian attacks on this day.

Kherson Minibus Tragedy on January 30

The city of Kherson was struck again on January 30 when a minibus was shelled on Nikolaevskoe Highway in the central district. The attack tragically killed the 48-year-old driver of the vehicle. Additionally, five passengers sustained injuries, with two of them seriously hurt with mine-explosive trauma. Reports indicate the bus was carrying the driver and seven passengers at the time of the incident.

Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Impact

These incidents are part of a broader pattern of intensified Russian attacks. On the night of January 29 and into the morning of January 30, Russian forces launched 111 drones, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting approximately 80 of them. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that railway infrastructure was targeted seven times within a 24-hour period, disrupting vital logistics and civilian movement.

The attacks come as Ukraine endures a challenging winter, with Russian strikes frequently disrupting heating and power supplies for millions. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has noted a significant increase in civilian casualties in late December and early January, marking an 'alarming reversal' of a previous downward trend.