DONETSK REGION, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian glide bomb struck a village in eastern Ukraine as people stood in line to collect their monthly pension, killing at least 24 and injuring 19 others, according to the Ukraine Emergency Service.
Poland's armed forces heightened their alert status due to fears of further airstrikes against Ukrainian targets. Preparations were commenced to secure Polish airspace.
The deadly strike hit the village of Yarova around 11 a.m., located less than 10 kilometers from the front lines, with 23 of the casualties reported to be pensioners.
Hennadii Trush, a resident of Yarova, tragically lost his wife in the blast while she was waiting to collect her bedridden mother-in-law’s pension. Shocked and covered in soot, he lamented the horror of the incident.
Pavlo Diachenko, local police communications head, reported widespread destruction and fires in the village, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the conflict began, according to United Nations reporting. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as frankly brutal and called for the international community to impose economic sanctions against Russia.
Such aerial assaults have intensified recently, with Ukrainian officials concerned about their defense capabilities as they struggle to cope with ongoing attacks. Zelenskyy reiterated the need for immediate international reaction to Russian aggression.
Amid this turmoil, local retirees bravely stand in line for pensions they rely on desperately, while a mobile post office was tragically caught in this latest attack, highlighting the vulnerability of civilians amidst warfare. The blood-stained aftermath remains fresh in the memories of those who survived, symbolizing the harsh realities faced daily in the ongoing conflict.
