An entire family - a married couple and their two young sons - have been killed in an overnight Russian drone attack in Ukraine's north-eastern Sumy region, local officials have said.
Regional head Oleh Hryhorov said a residential building was hit in the village of Chernechchyna. The bodies of the two children, aged four and six, and their parents were later recovered from the wreckage.
Ukraine's air force stated that its units shot down 46 out of 65 Russian drones across the country, though 19 direct hits occurred in six locations.
Russia's military has not commented on this incident. They reported that 81 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight in five Russian regions, with no casualties disclosed.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In a statement on Telegram, Hryhorov accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting a residential building in Chernechchyna, describing the loss of the family as a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive.
Recent weeks have seen an increase in aerial assaults from Russia, involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Ukraine has appealed to its Western allies for advanced air defense systems to counter these threats.
The Ukrainian government is also seeking long-range missiles to strike Russian cities, which they believe would weaken Russia's military efforts and push for negotiations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced funding to bolster Ukraine's drone capabilities, amounting to €2 billion. The ongoing situation highlights the complexities of international relations amid prolonged warfare.
