DONETSK REGION, Ukraine (RTW News) — A deadly airstrike by a Russian glide bomb hit the village of Yarova in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday morning, killing at least 24 people and injuring 19 others, most of whom were elderly waiting in line to collect their monthly pensions.
The Ukraine Emergency Service confirmed that the attack occurred around 11 a.m., striking a gathering point just a few kilometers from the front line of ongoing conflict. Officials reported that 23 of the deceased were pensioners, with many victims succumbing to severe blast injuries. Local resident Hennadii Trush, who lost his wife in the incident, described the scene as horrific, stating, 'It was beyond words.' He had to flee the village with his elderly mother after the strike.
The attack led to heightened military alert in Poland, where authorities declared that their armed forces were ready to respond to any threats stemming from ongoing Russian aerial assaults. 'To ensure the security of Polish airspace, all necessary procedures have been activated,' the Operational Command of Poland’s Armed Forces noted. They described the measures as precautionary, aimed at safeguarding nearby regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack via his Telegram account, calling it 'frankly brutal' and insisting that the international community needs to respond economically by imposing stricter sanctions on Russia. He emphasized that the world's silence in the face of such violence is unacceptable, calling for urgent action from the US, Europe, and G20 nations to halt Russia's aggression.
This tragic incident is a part of a broader trend, with the United Nations estimating that over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have lost their lives since the start of the conflict. Following a pattern of intensified aerial bombardments from Russia, the region has seen significant civilian suffering, with each attack highlighting the urgency for international diplomatic efforts to restore peace.
Victims from the blast were transported to a local morgue, revealing the grim aftermath of the strike. Eyewitness accounts and photographs are surfacing, painting a painful picture of loss and devastation as the community grapples with the trauma and concern for those who remain in danger.
