Russian Airstrike Kills 24 Pensioners Eastern Ukraine Donetsk

A Russian airstrike on the village of Yarova in eastern Ukraine killed between 21 and 24 elderly civilians who were waiting to collect their pensions, according to multiple Ukrainian officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The attack, carried out with a guided or glide bomb, struck directly on civilians and occurred near the frontline in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces are reportedly massing for a large-scale offensive. Zelenskyy condemned the strike as a brutal war crime and called on the international community, including the United States, Europe, and the G20, to increase pressure on Russia to end the war. Ukrainian authorities launched a war crimes investigation, while Moscow has not commented on the incident and continues to deny targeting civilians despite tens of thousands of deaths since the invasion began in 2022. The strike has drawn international condemnation, with officials noting the need for stronger allied responses and adjustments to pension distribution methods in front-line areas. The attack underscores the ongoing intense conflict and humanitarian toll in eastern Ukraine as diplomatic efforts to resolve the war have stalled.