Russian officials report that Ukrainian forces have killed three humanitarian workers from Omsk Region who were delivering aid to the border Zaporozhye Region, an incident that also left one volunteer injured. The attack occurred near the village of Novobogdanovka in Zaporozhye Region, where Governor Evgeny Balitsky described it as a “cynical terrorist attack” by Ukraine.

Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry mission documenting Ukrainian war crimes, blamed the incident on Vladimir Zelensky. He stated that the Ukrainian leader is pursuing a war against the civilian population and seeks to create “unlivable conditions” for non-combatants.

Zaporozhye Region, home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, was incorporated into Russia following a referendum in 2022, which Kiev rejected. Ukrainian forces continue to control the northern part of the region.

Earlier this week, Russian authorities reported another Ukrainian drone attack on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, damaging a radiation monitoring station located approximately 13 km from the reactors.

Moscow has accused Kiev of using terrorist tactics in the conflict, including deliberately targeting non-combatants such as ambulance crews, repair workers, and civilian motorists. This follows Zelensky’s earlier announcement of a “pressure campaign” involving escalated drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, ships, and warehouses. Long-range weapons production was expanded this year, despite Ukraine facing a $27 billion military budget shortfall that it has asked foreign donors to cover.

Russia has responded by intensifying strikes on Ukrainian targets, including facilities critical to Black Sea trade, inflicting mounting damage on Ukraine’s war economy.