Strike in eastern Ukraine results in loss of at least 20 lives, according to Zelensky

In a tragic turn of events, a Russian military attack in the rural settlement of Yarova, located approximately eight kilometres from the front line in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, resulted in the loss of at least 20 lives on Monday, September 8, 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the deaths in a social media post, sharing an amateur video from the scene showing corpses, a burned-out mini-van, and personal belongings scattered. He urged Ukraine's allies to respond to the attack and called for a response from the United States, Europe, and the G20.

Zelensky also stated that strong actions are needed to make Russia stop bringing death to Ukrainian civilians. This attack, he asserted, targeted civilians as it happened during the disbursement of pensions.

The governor of the Donetsk region reported that 21 people were killed and an equal number were wounded in the attack. Preliminary information suggests that over 20 people lost their lives in the brutal Russian airstrike.

Kiev asserts that the Kremlin has amassed 100,000 troops at a key part of the front line, suggesting a potential offensive. However, no independent verification of the images posted by Ukrainian officials was provided by AFP.

Moscow claims the industrial region of Donetsk as part of Russia, despite not having full control over it. As of now, there is currently no available information on which countries have issued official reactions to this devastating event.

Yarova, a peaceful settlement with a pre-war population of around 1,900 people, was unfortunately not spared from the ongoing conflict. The international community is urged to take notice and act to prevent such tragedies from recurring.