Deadly Russian bombing hits Ukrainian village, 23 killed

(Web Desk): According to Ukrainian officials, at least 23 people were killed and 18 injured in a Russian airstrike on the rural village of Yatskivka in the eastern Donetsk region.

As reported by US broadcaster CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the airstrike as “extremely brutal” and “a direct attack on civilians.” He further stated, “Such Russian attacks should receive an appropriate response from the world.”

A video released by Zelenskyy showed horrific scenes with several bodies lying on the ground, all dressed in civilian clothing. Some victims appeared elderly, and many were severely wounded. According to Zelenskyy, the attack occurred as pensions were being distributed in the village, which lies just a few miles from the front lines. Pension payments are often handled through Ukraine’s postal service.

The footage also showed the wreckage of a mobile post office van from the Ukrainian postal service in Yatskivka. In the background, a children’s playground with two yellow slides was visible.

Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, said, “The Russians attacked while people were collecting their pensions. This is not war; it is pure terrorism.” He added that rescue workers and medical personnel remained at the scene.

Ukrposhta (Ukraine’s postal service) chief Ihor Smiliansky stated that the local post branch head was injured and taken to the hospital. He noted that the service frequently changes safety protocols to avoid such attacks. In the video, the van appeared parked under trees to evade aerial surveillance.

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the country expects a “strong reaction” from its allies and called for further sanctions on Russia. “Russian propaganda claims they are ‘saving’ people in Donetsk, but in reality, they are dropping large bombs on pensioners,” he said.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Yatskivka had a population of about 2,800. The village was captured by Russian forces in June 2022 but was later retaken by Ukrainian troops the same year.

Local officials also reported that across Ukraine on Monday, an additional seven people were killed and at least 22 injured. In the eastern Zaporizhzhia region, one woman was killed and another injured.

Filashkin also stated that another Russian attack on the Donetsk region on Monday killed six people and injured 10.