A Russian airstrike on the eastern Ukrainian settlement of Yarova killed at least 24 civilians on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials confirmed. The victims had gathered to collect pension payments when the attack struck, leaving bodies scattered near a playground and a burned-out van. Authorities said the strike was carried out with a glide bomb, a weapon capable of hitting targets far from the front line.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault, calling it a “brutally savage” attack directly on civilians. He urged the United States, Europe, and the G20 to deliver a strong response, insisting that only decisive action can stop Russia’s escalating campaign. Ukraine’s prosecutor general has opened a war crimes investigation into the incident, while Moscow has yet to comment.
Yarova, a small settlement just eight kilometers from the front, had fewer than 2,000 residents before the war. Local families gathered outside a morgue where at least 13 bodies were placed in black bags, mourning the devastating loss of life.
The strike came as Germany and the United States pledged fresh support to Ukraine. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced the delivery of several thousand long-range drones, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promised stronger measures but stressed that Europe must act with unity.
Tensions spread beyond Ukraine after Poland reported that Russian drones violated its airspace during the same wave of attacks. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that Polish forces responded militarily, while Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Warsaw was in constant contact with NATO command. Airports, including Warsaw Chopin, were briefly closed as NATO aircraft were scrambled and air defense systems went on high alert.
The incident follows Russia’s largest drone assault on Ukraine over the weekend, which involved more than 800 drones and included a strike on Kyiv’s Cabinet of Ministers building. The latest escalation has raised fresh concerns about the conflict spilling over into NATO territory and dragging Europe into deeper confrontation.
