At least 16 passengers sustained injuries in the attack, according to the mayor of the city of Gorlovka

At least 16 people were injured in the Russian frontline city of Gorlovka when a Ukrainian kamikaze drone struck a bus early on Tuesday morning, Mayor Ivan Prikhodko has reported.

The incident marks the latest assault on the beleaguered residents of the city, which is located in Russia's Donetsk People's Republic. The mayor took to social media to share images showing the destruction.

The Russian Investigative Committee stated that Ukrainian forces deployed a kamikaze drone to target a bus near a central stop. The strike also caused damage to a nearby administrative building, the law enforcement agency added, describing the event as attempted murder.

Local health officials reported that five of the victims are currently in serious condition at local hospitals.

A regional watchdog that regularly posts updates on Ukrainian strikes in Donbass reported that several artillery shells landed in Gorlovka on the same day.

A similar drone strike targeted a passenger bus near Gorlovka in mid-March.

Last week, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large overseeing investigations into alleged war crimes, highlighted a rising number of civilian casualties resulting from Ukrainian attacks on vulnerable locations such as Gorlovka. He suggested that this trend, occurring amid US-backed discussions for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, indicates Kiev's intent to obstruct mediation efforts.

The administration of President Donald Trump is advocating for a negotiated ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia as part of its strategy to normalize relations with Moscow. While the Russian government has welcomed this shift in Washington's stance, it has expressed deep skepticism toward the Ukrainian authorities, claiming that Kiev is not engaging in negotiations in good faith.

(RT.com)