Russia Air strike 24 civilians killed in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack hit the small village of Yarova. This is also very close to the front line. Residents had gathered at retiree pension time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated “ordinary civilians” died, most of them are elderly.
Russia Air strike 24 civilians killed in Donetsk Village
Regional officials confirmed 24 people died and at least 19 people are injured in the attack. Furthermore, emergency services rushed to the site to provide medical aid and rescue survivors. Officials reiterated to residents of nearby villages near Yarova to immediately evacuate to safer regions of the Donetsk region.
The attack took place at the local time of about 10:40 am. This coincide with pension distribution time. Witnesses stated the attack focused on an area where people were gathered around a postal service vehicle, many of the victims were pensioners awaiting there pension payment.
Guided Bomb Dropped on Civilians
Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s Interior Minister, stated the strike involved a guided air bomb. Images from the site revealed a demolished Ukrainian postal service van, ruined by the explosion. The vehicle had been parked under trees for protection, but that precaution proved useless.
The head of Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s Postal Service, confirmed a local official had been injured. He threw suspicion on Russian forces, claiming they must have had coordinates to conduct an air strike on that vehicle. This posed new questions about information leaks, and the targeting of civilians.
A Village Near the Front
Located north of the town of Slovyansk, Yarova is on the strategic railway line between Lyman, and Izium. The front line is less than 10km away. Russian forces have moved on slowly in the east, and have pushed closer to other nearby villages, like Novoselivka.
Local head of administration in Lyman, Oleksandr Zhuravlyov, clarified pension payments would now go to safer places. He pointed out civilians need protecting, particularly the elderly who are dependent on such services.
Local authorities confirmed that after the attack, 22 people had been evacuated, but thousands still remain in the broader Donetsk region, living under continuous shelling and bombardment.
Russia Air strike 24 civilians killed adds to recent attacks
The Russia Air strike 24 civilians killed comes shortly after Russia had unleashed its largest aerial bombardment of Kyiv since the war began. The attack struck government buildings damaging buildings across the capital.
Only a month ago, 23 civilians were killed overnight in air strikes on Kyiv. These constant attacks ramped up show Russia’s direction in its strategy to purposely target civilian infrastructure, despite condemnation from all social spheres.
Russian air strikes killed 24 civilians. President Zelensky called the attack “ruthless” and called for action worldwide, demanding a greater response from the US, European nations, and the G20 group. He stated that these strikes have particular goals, that long the war and instill fear in all of Ukraine’s people.
Civilians Continue to Pay the Price
Most of the dead in Yarovo were elderly. This shows the risk for many older Ukrainians in Ukraine’s population. The elderly often refuse to leave their homes and stay even when fighting comes closer to the front lines. Pensions get paid on set days, which brings together groups of civilians, and makes them easy targets.
Ukraine’s emergency services stated that one more person died from earlier shelling in Donetsk. This is now a heavy civil toll which the Donetsk region is still suffering every day. Humanitarian agencies warn that if fighting continues to move into civilian spaces, the civilian toll of deaths from the conflict will rise.
Global response and calls for action
The Ukrainian government has again called for increased international effort. Zelensky called on the western states to provide more air defense systems to protect unharmed civilians and asked for increased sanctions against Russia, stating that only strong sanctions against Russia could halt these attacks and civilian deaths.
Thus far, Russia’s military has not responded to our strike at Yarova. They have denied hitting civilians immediately following the attack, despite clear evidence from multiple attacks.
Conclusion: Russia Air strike 24 civilians killed
The incalcuble tragedy in Yarova, one of many of the deadliest act against civilians over the past weeks, has taken place, and now again Ukraine calls for urgent international support. As the war drags on, the legal protections of civilians are amongst the greatest challenges for Ukraine and its allies.
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