Fire and Rescue Units Targeted
Russian forces launched strikes against fire and rescue units in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, and Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region. In Druzhkivka, a fire station and two specialized vehicles were damaged. No injuries were reported among personnel there.
In Nikopol, rescuers came under renewed fire while battling a blaze that broke out after an attack on a gas station. The Russians first damaged one fire truck; when a second crew arrived to assist, they struck again, damaging that vehicle as well. Fortunately, the emergency workers escaped unharmed, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
Civilian Infrastructure Under Assault
Additionally, in the early hours of June 29, a Russian drone hit a gas station in the Poltava district, injuring one person. Over the past day, Russian troops shelled settlements in Sumy region 46 times, targeting areas including:
- Sumy district
- Shostka district
- Okhtyrka district
- Konotop district
These incidents are part of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where attacks on civilian infrastructure—including emergency services—are becoming increasingly frequent. Strikes against rescue workers highlight the dangers faced by civil protection teams as they carry out their duties, potentially hampering their ability to respond to emergencies. Such assaults also raise serious concerns about the safety of civilians in war-affected regions.
The ongoing conflict has seen a troubling trend of attacks on emergency services, as highlighted by recent incidents in Nikopol and Druzhkivka. This situation mirrors a previous strike on a rescue facility in the Dnipropetrovsk region, which raises urgent questions about the protection of those who serve on the front lines of crisis response. For more details on this alarming pattern of aggression against emergency personnel, see our report on the assault on emergency services in Dnipropetrovsk.