‘Russia brings only death and horror’ Ukrainian officials call for accountability after one of Moscow’s deadliest strikes on civilians so far
Russia dropped an aerial bomb on the village of Yarova in Ukraine’s Donetsk region on Tuesday, killing at least 24 civilians and injuring at least 19 more, according to the Ukrainian authorities. Many of them had gathered at a mobile branch of Ukraine’s postal service, Ukrposhta, to collect their pensions. Here’s how Ukrainian officials have responded to one of Moscow’s deadliest strikes on a civilian target since the start of the full-scale war.
Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s mail service, quickly responded to the Yarova attack, writing on X: “Russia continues to bring death.” The company added that a mail vehicle driver and a postal branch head were at the scene and survived the strike. One other employee was hospitalized, according to CEO Ihor Smilianskyi.
The mail service chief also promised to revise pension payout procedures in frontline areas in response to the attack. “Since the start of the war, we have constantly adapted our safety measures. As seen in the video, the vehicle was parked under trees to reduce the risk of being targeted. But apparently, someone revealed the coordinates,” Smilianskyi said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as “outright brutal” and called for an international response.
The Russians continue destroying lives while avoiding new strong sanctions and new strong blows. The world must not remain silent. The world must not remain idle. A response is needed from the United States. A response is needed from Europe. A response is needed from the G20. Strong actions are needed to make Russia stop bringing death.
Zelensky posted a video of the attack’s aftermath showing the bodies of victims and blast-damaged vehicles.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, said that Russia is waging a “deliberate war against civilians” to intimidate Ukraine’s population. “This tragic incident once again proves that terrorists can take the form of a whole state. The Russian state is a terrorist entity,” Yermak said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the Russian airstrike “barbaric.” He said Ukraine expects decisive retaliation: “Russian criminals must face justice for this and other atrocities,” he said.
“Russian propaganda claims to be ‘saving’ people in the Donetsk region, but in reality, it is dropping massive air bombs on people who came to receive pensions. Russia brings only death, horror, and destruction,” Sybiha added.
Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets described the strike as a “cynical and cruel air attack.” He called it “further proof of systemic terror against Ukraine’s civilian population” and demanded a “resolute international response and inevitable punishment for those responsible.”
The Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation under Ukrainian Criminal Code articles addressing violations of the laws and customs of war. “No Russian war crime and no perpetrator will go unpunished,” the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said.