Russia Says Drone Strike on Tokmak Market Kills Five, Injures 18

Dragon Media News Desk

A drone strike on a busy market in Tokmak, in the Russian-controlled part of the Zaporozhye Region, killed five people and injured 18 others, according to Russian authorities.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement issued on July 3 that the attack had been deliberately carried out by Ukrainian forces.

According to preliminary information, 14 of the injured were taken to Tokmak Hospital, while four people in more serious condition were transferred to a hospital in Melitopol, the regional health ministry said.

An operational headquarters was established at the site to coordinate emergency response, medical assistance and investigative work.

Zakharova alleged that further attacks were carried out against people who rushed to help the victims, disrupting efforts to evacuate the injured to medical facilities.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case and is treating the incident as a terrorist attack. The committee said those involved would be identified and brought to justice.

The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the strike, describing it as a war crime against civilians.

Zakharova expressed condolences to the families and relatives of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

She also called on governments, international organisations and independent media outlets to provide what she described as an honest assessment of the attack, warning that failure to respond could encourage further violence against civilians.

Russia has blamed the Ukrainian armed forces for the strike. The Ukrainian side had not issued an immediate official response, and key details surrounding the incident had not been independently verified.