Russian drones damage homes of three journalists in Dnipro

The residences of three local media workers in Dnipro were damaged as a result of massive Russian shelling on March 26th and 28th, 2025, as reported by Kateryna Lysiuk, a representative of the non-profit organisation Institute of Mass Information in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Photo: Dmytro Moskalenko. Collage: Kateryna Lysiuk

One of those affected is Serhiy Diveyev, a photojournalist from Dnipro. The explosive wave shattered all the windows in his apartment and damaged the tiles. He and his pets were unharmed. Diveyev recounted that he was alone at home when the explosion occurred: he was awakened by his cat, saw a danger alert, and moved to the hallway with his animals. According to Diveyev, he was saved from glass fragments by the adhesive tape with which he had tightly sealed the windows.

The following day, sports journalist Dmytro Moskalenko’s home was damaged in a new strike. At the time of the attack, he was at home with his family. Upon hearing the first explosions, they immediately took shelter in a room without windows. Moskalenko noted that he frequently hears explosions, but two of them were exceptionally powerful this time. Their dog, Lancelot Lyovych, was particularly frightened.

Moskalenko also mentioned that their house is over a century old and was built in 1908. Half of the building was acquired in 1946 by his great-grandfather, Prokip Yakymenko, who was a member of the Katerynoslav “Prosvita” society and a friend of the historian Dmytro Yavornytskyy. The blast wave from the impact shattered the stained-glass windows, which the family had planned to replace, as well as a small window above the front door.

On the same day, the home of Andriy Fedchenko, a journalist for the “Nashe Misto” media holding, also suffered significant damage. At the time of the impact, he and his common-law wife were visiting friends. He learned about the explosion from an acquaintance who called to ask if they were alright. Fedchenko initially could not believe it, as he had lived in the apartment for 10 years, and his wife for roughly four years. After receiving confirmation from a neighbour that the strike had occurred between their building and the adjacent one, they immediately called a taxi and returned home.

Photo: Andriy Fedchenko. Collage: Kateryna Lysiuk

Upon arrival, they witnessed a large-scale fire: theirs and the neighbouring house were ablaze. Rescuers did not allow them to get closer due to the risk of a gas explosion, as all residents used gas water heaters. Two neighbours sustained severe injuries: one was hospitalised with severe burns, and the other had both hands torn off by the explosion.

The couple spent the first night at a friend’s place. In the morning, rescuers allowed them to enter the area. According to Fedchenko, one of the neighbouring houses was destroyed, with only fragments of concrete and brick walls remaining. Their house also suffered significant damage: one neighbour’s apartment was completely destroyed, their own home requires major repairs, and another apartment was less damaged but also needs restoration.

Only some furniture and clothing survived, but everything is permeated with the smell of smoke. The couple is currently staying temporarily with friends, as there are no other options at the moment. The journalist’s relatives – his mother and aunt – are internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Dobropillia in the Donetsk region and live in a small room in a dormitory, so for now, he and his wife will have to remain with friends.

On March 28th, at least 28 people were injured in Dnipro as a result of a Russian drone attack. March 30th was declared a day of mourning in the city.