At least three people were killed in a Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region overnight, authorities said Thursday. The strike caused a major blaze in an apartment building, while emergency services battled fires into the night in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where two others were injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian forces are reportedly preparing for another large-scale aerial assault. Previous attacks, involving hundreds of drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, have targeted critical infrastructure, including the country’s power grid.

Zelenskyy criticized Moscow, saying the ongoing bombardment undermines efforts for peace. “Every single Russian strike discredits the talks,” he said, as renewed US-brokered negotiations are scheduled for the weekend amid doubts about Russia’s commitment to a settlement.

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The attacks continue along Ukraine’s roughly 1,000-kilometer front line, hitting civilian areas despite international condemnation. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, accused Russia of escalating strikes to compensate for battlefield setbacks, calling for increased pressure to force Moscow into concessions.

The human cost of the conflict remains staggering. An international think tank estimates that combined casualties—killed, injured, or missing—could reach 2 million by spring, with Russia sustaining the highest troop losses for any major power since World War II.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that Russia launched over 6,000 drones in the past month alone and is constantly enhancing its drone technology and tactics. Ukraine has adjusted its air defense strategy in response, though details of the changes have not been disclosed.

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