In brief
In a shocking incident, Russian air strikes on the Ukrainian village of Yarova resulted in the deaths of over 20 individuals, primarily pensioners. President Zelensky condemned the violent act, while local officials reported a significant number of injuries alongside the fatalities. The attack underscores ongoing tensions and violence as the war approaches a critical phase in the region.
More than 20 people have been killed in a Russian air strike on a village in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymr Zelensky has said, citing initial reports.
The victims were ordinary people collecting their pensions in the Donetsk settlement of Yarova, he said. Donetsk regional leader Vadym Filkashkin said emergency services were at the scene, adding there were as many people wounded as killed.
Yarova, to the north of Sloviansk, is one of the big cities in the region and not far from the front line as Russian forces advance slowly in the east.
If confirmed, the death toll would be among the heaviest attacks on Ukrainian civilians in recent weeks, 42 months into Russia's full-scale invasion.
At least 23 people were killed in overnight air strikes on Ukraine's capital Kyiv at the end of August.
At the weekend Russia launched its biggest air assault of the war on Kyiv so far, hitting the main government building in the capital, in what Zelensky said was a ruthless attack aimed at prolonging the war.
Posting graphic footage of the attack on Yarova online, Zelensky said there were no words to describe the latest Russian strikes. There was no immediate response from Russia's military.
The world must not remain silent, Zelensky said, calling for a response from both the US, Europe and the G20 group of nations.
