KHARKIV REGION, Ukraine — A Russian drone strike has killed three toddlers and their father in eastern Ukraine, in an attack that also left their pregnant mother injured, Ukrainian emergency officials confirmed.
The tragedy occurred in Bohodukhiv, a town about 60 kilometres west of Kharkiv, where the family had just relocated after fleeing heavy shelling in another community.
Family Killed Hours After Seeking Safety
Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov said the family had evacuated from Zolochiv only a day earlier in search of safety.
“They had just moved to escape constant shelling. This was their first night in the new home,” he wrote on Telegram.
Authorities identified the victims as two-year-old twin boys, Ivan and Vladislav, their one-year-old sister Miroslava, and their 34-year-old father, Hryhorii.
Emergency responders said the drone strike destroyed the house and triggered a fire that consumed the building.
Pregnant Mother Injured but Survives
Police reported that the children’s mother, who is 35 weeks pregnant, suffered head injuries and burns. Doctors treated her in hospital before discharging her.
Officials initially misidentified another survivor as the children’s grandmother. Authorities later clarified that the 73-year-old woman was a neighbour.
Local Leaders Condemn Attack
Bohodukhiv Mayor Volodymyr Bilyi described the strike as “a crime beyond human comprehension.”
“We lost the most precious thing we had – our future,” he said.
Later that day, authorities in Zolochiv reported additional drone strikes that injured two teenagers.
Zelensky: Attacks Undermine Peace Efforts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack demonstrates that Russia is not committed to ending the war.
“Each such Russian strike undermines confidence in diplomatic efforts to end this war,” he said on Telegram.
According to Zelensky, Russia launched 129 attack drones overnight targeting multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Poltava.
Wider Escalation Across Ukraine
Regional authorities said a drone also struck a medical evacuation vehicle carrying healthcare workers and civilians in the Kharkiv region, killing one woman.
In western Ukraine, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy reported that Russia fired two ballistic missiles toward the city. Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted and neutralised the missiles, he said.
The latest strikes add to growing civilian casualties as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues.
For ongoing updates on the war in Ukraine, visit the United Nations news portal: Here
Key Developments
- Russian drone strike kills three toddlers and their father in Bohodukhiv
- Pregnant mother survives with injuries
- 129 drones launched overnight across several Ukrainian regions
- Additional missile attacks reported in Lviv
