Zelenskyy Condemns Russia After Drone Strike Kills Family
In a devastating escalation of the ongoing conflict, a Russian drone strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Pryluky resulted in the deaths of five civilians, including three generations of a single family. The attack claimed the lives of a one-year-old child, his mother, and grandmother, who were inside their home when it was struck. The child’s grandfather, a local firefighter, discovered the tragedy upon returning from responding to other drone attacks in the area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault, stating:
“When it does not feel strong enough condemnation and pressure from the world – it kills again.”
The strike on Pryluky was part of a broader offensive, with Russian forces launching 103 drones and a ballistic missile across multiple Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Dnipro, and Kherson. In Kharkiv, 19 civilians were injured, including children and a 93-year-old woman, when drones targeted residential buildings.
Civilian Casualties
The attack on Pryluky underscores the increasing toll on Ukrainian civilians. The one-year-old victim became the 632nd child killed since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described the incident as a war crime, emphasizing the deliberate targeting of civilians.
“This is a war crime,” Klymenko stated. “And there will be responsibility for every life killed. On the battlefield. In international courts. On the pages of history.”
The mother of the child, a police officer named Daryna Shyhyda, had recently relocated from Kyiv to Pryluky seeking safety. Tragically, the move did not shield her family from the violence.
Zelenskyy Russia Condemnation
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for stronger international sanctions against Russia, arguing that insufficient global pressure emboldens further aggression. He urged allies to impose maximum sanctions and increase support for Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
“This is yet another reason to impose maximum sanctions and put pressure together. We expect action from the United States, Europe, and everyone in the world who can really help change these terrible circumstances,” Zelenskyy asserted.
The recent drone attacks by Russia are perceived as retaliation for Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a significant drone offensive that destroyed 41 Russian warplanes across four airbases. The operation, meticulously planned over 18 months, inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage on Russian military assets.
As the conflict continues, the international community faces mounting pressure to respond decisively to the escalating humanitarian crisis and to support Ukraine in its defense against ongoing aggression.
