The drone strike on a civilian bus carrying workers in Marhanets—killing nine and injuring at least 30—underscores how brutal and indiscriminate the violence in Ukraine continues to be. Targeting transport like that, especially in a non-military zone, really highlights how civilians are still bearing the brunt of this conflict.
It’s especially striking that this happened during supposed ceasefire talks, even with the Easter truce announcement. The fact that those talks have been downgraded—with top U.S. officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff pulling out—might signal some cracks or a shift in momentum behind the scenes.
Also, the potential U.S. proposal to recognize Crimea as Russian territory as a peace condition? That’s a massive red line for Ukraine, and understandably so. For Zelenskyy to agree to that would essentially legitimize the 2014 annexation—a move most of the international community has consistently rejected.
And then there’s Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff—more known in real estate than diplomacy—acting as a backchannel with Putin. The whole situation feels like it’s moving into a murky, high-stakes phase with less public clarity and more behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
Are you following the conflict closely, or did this particular attack stand out to you more than others?