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 said a residential building was hit in the village of Chernechchyna. The bodies of the two children, aged four and six, and their parents were later recovered from the wreckage.
Ukraine's air force reported that its units shot down 46 out of 65 Russian drones nationwide, but 19 direct hits occurred in six different locations. In response, Russia claimed to have destroyed 81 Ukrainian drones overnight without reporting any casualties.
Hryhorov accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting a residential building in Chernechchyna. He described the loss of an entire family as a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive.
The attack has raised alarm as Russia has intensified its drone assaults in recent weeks, regularly launching hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukrainian targets. Ukraine continues to call for advanced air defense systems from its Western allies, while seeking capabilities to strike deep into Russian territory as a means to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.
Last week, US Vice-President JD Vance indicated that Washington is considering Ukraine's request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, which could target major cities in Russia. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a significant financial investment to enhance Ukraine's drone capabilities.
Despite international efforts to mediate a ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently rejected calls for a halt to hostilities. Kyiv and its allies accuse him of employing stalling tactics as his forces persist with their tactical operations in Ukraine, resulting in significant combat casualties.
