Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on 9/9, "A brutal bombing of a residential area in Yarova village, Donetsk province has occurred. The attack directly targeted civilians while pensions were being distributed. Preliminary information indicates over 20 people have died."

A video posted by Zelensky shows bodies scattered on the ground, a burned-out minivan near a playground, and personal belongings, shoes, and papers strewn everywhere.

Vadym Filashkin, the Ukrainian-appointed head of the Donetsk regional military administration, said the attack killed 21 people and injured 21 others.

A spokesperson for Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian postal service, confirmed the attack damaged one of their vehicles and hospitalized an employee. Ukrposhta provides public services in frontline areas, including pension payments.

President Zelensky called on Ukraine's allies to respond to the Russian attack.

"There needs to be a reaction from the US, Europe, and the G20. Strong action is needed to stop Russia from causing further deaths," the Ukrainian leader said.

The scene of the alleged Russian attack on Yarova village in Donetsk province on 9/9. Photo: Ukrposhta

The scene of the alleged Russian attack on Yarova village in Donetsk province on 9/9. Photo: Ukrposhta

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the information, but Moscow has repeatedly claimed it does not target civilians, only military or military-related targets.

Yarova village is located about 8 km from the front line in Donetsk province and had a population of about 1,900 before the conflict began. Russia has not yet fully controlled Donetsk despite claiming to have annexed it and three other regions – Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Lugansk – in 2022.

Russia has made steady advances in Donetsk province in recent months, concentrating firepower and redeploying troops from other fronts to focus its offensive. Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrsky said this week that Russia has three times as many troops as Ukraine in some areas, and even up to six times more in locations where Moscow has concentrated its forces.

Ukrainian officials have urged Donetsk residents to leave the conflict zone since the early days of the war, but casualties are unavoidable. Tens of thousands are estimated to have died and millions have been displaced in the conflict in Ukraine, the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II.

Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has been trying to find a solution to end the war in Ukraine, but has yet to achieve concrete results.

Pham Giang (According to AFP)