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 stated that a residential building was struck in the village of Chernechchyna, where the bodies of the children, aged four and six, along with their parents, were later recovered from the wreckage.
Ukraine's air force reported shooting down 46 out of 65 Russian drones across the country, but noted that there were 19 direct hits across six locations.
Russia's military has not provided comments on this incident, stating instead that 81 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight in five Russian regions, with no casualties reported.
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have been increasing aerial assaults. Hryhorov accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting residential buildings, calling the loss of the family a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified its calls for advanced air defense systems from Western allies to better handle the frequent drone strikes.
As part of efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €2 billion will be spent on drones to enhance Ukraine's capacity.
This incident highlights the escalating violence in the region, impacting civilian lives and deepening the humanitarian crisis amidst ongoing military confrontations.
