Tragedy Strikes: Russian Air Strike Kills 23 in Eastern Ukraine Village
In a devastating attack, twenty-three individuals lost their lives in a Russian air strike on a village in eastern Ukraine, as confirmed by a local official.
The victims, described as ordinary citizens collecting their pensions in the Donetsk settlement of Yarova, were caught in the deadly assault, stated President Volodymr Zelensky. Donetsk regional leader Vadym Filashkin reported that emergency services were on the scene, attending to both the wounded and the deceased.
Yarova, located north of Slovyansk, a prominent city in the region, is in close proximity to the advancing Russian forces on the eastern front.
If the casualties are verified, this attack would mark one of the deadliest incidents targeting Ukrainian civilians amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion, now in its 42nd month.
Not long ago, twenty-three individuals lost their lives in overnight air strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, at the end of August.
Over the weekend, Russia launched a significant air assault on Kyiv, targeting the main government building in a brutal attack denounced by Zelensky as an attempt to prolong the conflict.
Sharing harrowing footage of the Yarova attack online, Zelensky expressed his speechlessness at the latest Russian strikes. As of now, there has been no official response from Russia’s military.
Oleksandr Zhuravlyov, head of the local administration in nearby Lyman, detailed that the attack occurred around 10:40 local time (07:40 GMT) on Tuesday, during the pension distribution process.
With twenty-three confirmed fatalities and eighteen individuals wounded, the toll continues to rise, according to the latest reports provided to Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne.
Images from the scene depict a severely damaged Ukrainian postal service vehicle typically used for pension distribution.
The head of Ukrposhta service mentioned that the vehicle had been strategically parked under trees for security, with a local postal official sustaining injuries in the assault. Speculation arose regarding potential leak of coordinates leading to the attack.
Situated along a crucial railway line between Lyman and Izium, Yarova stands only 6km (3.7 miles) away from Novoselivka, where Russian forces are encroaching on the outskirts.
Zhuravlyov emphasized the need to relocate pension distribution services to safer locations due to the proximity of the front line, ensuring the safety of individuals receiving their pensions.
Additionally, Ukraine’s state emergency service reported three more casualties from earlier Russian shelling in Donetsk settlements.
“The world must not remain silent,” urged Zelensky, calling for a response from the US, Europe, and the G20 nations. – BBC
