Four people have been confirmed dead and 18 others injured following a Russian missile strike on the eastern Ukrainian town of Merefa, local authorities reported on Monday.
Merefa, located southwest of Kharkiv—Ukraine’s second-largest city—has been among areas repeatedly targeted since Russia’s invasion began more than four years ago.
According to Kharkiv regional governor Oleg Synegubov, the attack struck residential and commercial locations within the town. “The victims are men aged 50 and 63, and women aged 41 and 52,” he said.
The strike caused significant damage, affecting an apartment building, four retail shops, and a car service station. Emergency responders were deployed to the scene to manage the aftermath.
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Russian troops have continued efforts to seize ground in the Kharkiv region, an area where Ukrainian forces previously pushed them back in 2022.
The latest attack coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation in a summit alongside European leaders in Armenia, a country traditionally seen as a Russian ally. It also came as Ukrainian drones reportedly reached Moscow on Monday.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts led by the United States to address the conflict have lost momentum amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.