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 confirmed that a residential building was struck in the village of Chernechchyna. The bodies of the two children, aged four and six, along with their parents were later retrieved from the debris.
Ukraine's air force has reported intercepting 46 of the 65 drones launched by Russia that night, yet 19 direct hits occurred across six locations.
The Russian military has not commented on these allegations, maintaining that it targeted Ukrainian drones and reported no casualties on its side.
This incident comes amid a backdrop of intensified aerial attacks by Russia, with Ukrainian officials asserting that their forces are deliberately targeting civilian structures. Hryhorov termed the loss of the family a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive.
In the wake of this and similar tragedies, Ukraine has been pressing Western allies to provide advanced air defense systems to withstand such attacks effectively. Moreover, Kyiv seeks long-range missile capabilities that would enable strikes on infrastructure deep within Russia, arguing that such actions could pressure Moscow into negotiations.
Last week, US Vice-President JD Vance acknowledged discussions around a potential supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, which would significantly extend its military reach. Concurrently, the European Commission recently announced a substantial financial commitment towards enhancing Ukraine's drone capabilities.
Amid ongoing debates on military support, US President Donald Trump and European leaders continue to pursue avenues to de-escalate the conflict, although President Putin has publicly dismissed calls for a ceasefire amidst ongoing operations.
This tragic event further exemplifies the urgent need for international support in protecting civilians and addressing the humanitarian fallout from the ongoing war that has gripped Ukraine since February 2022.
