Tragic Attack in Eastern Ukraine Leaves 21 Dead

Kyiv, Sep 9 (AP) A devastating attack occurred in eastern Ukraine as a Russian glide bomb hit the village of Yarova, targeting civilians who were queuing to collect their pensions on Tuesday. At least 21 people were killed, and nearly two dozen more were wounded, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and local officials reported.

The bomb struck the Donetsk region village, marking another tragic instance in the ongoing conflict where civilian lives have been lost. According to the United Nations, over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been casualties in the three-year-long war.

President Zelenskyy decried the attack as "frankly brutal," calling on the international community to impose further economic repercussions on Russia for its full-scale invasion.

"The world should not remain silent," Zelenskyy stated. "The world should not remain inactive. The United States needs a reaction. Europe needs a reaction. The G20 needs a reaction. Strong action is needed so that Russia stops bringing death.”

Despite US-led peace initiatives witnessing little progress in recent times, Russia has intensified its aerial attacks on Ukraine. On Sunday, an unprecedented assault on Kyiv involved both drones and missiles, representing the largest aerial offensive since the start of the war on February 24, 2022.

US and European officials convened at the US Treasury Department on Monday to explore economic measures against Russia, such as new sanctions and increased tariffs on Russian oil, according to a source familiar with the discussions. Further deliberations were expected to take place on Tuesday.

The glide bombs used in these attacks are modified Soviet-era weapons that have been wreaking havoc in eastern Ukraine for months. Some of these bombs now weigh 1,360 kilograms, significantly amplifying their destructive capacity since they were first used in 2022.

In many Ukrainian villages, including Yarova, pensions are distributed monthly at local post offices, as digital banking is not commonplace among older residents.

Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin confirmed the attack's toll, with 21 fatalities and 21 injuries among those waiting to receive their pensions. "This is not warfare. This is pure terrorism," he emphasized on Telegram.

Emergency services responded promptly to the incident. Yarova is situated less than 10 kilometers from the front line, a region previously occupied by Russian forces in 2022 before being reclaimed by Ukrainian forces later that year.

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