Following Putin’s lethal barrage of missile strikes on Ukraine over the weekend, a 9-year-old girl and her parents are among the dead.
Ukraine’s military reported that a second blitz on an elderly shelter killed four persons and injured over 80 others who were buried by debris.
Two children, including nine-year-old Sofia Yavorska, perished after their Poltava apartment complex was destroyed by bombing on Saturday morning.
The building’s five levels were demolished, and the fire that resulted tore into nearby structures.
Igor, Sofia’s distraught grandfather, claimed that his “entire family”—including Sofia’s parents, his son and daughter-in-law—were among the 14 people slain.
He said: “They were young people, [both] 37 years old, my granddaughter was nine.
Also killed in the apartment block strike was Ukrainian actress Anastasia “Nastia” Kolovakh.
The stage star, 30, was paid tribute to by her old theatre group, who said: “Words fail us. Fly high, birdie.”
According to Poltava’s governor, Volodymyr Kohut, 22 people were evacuated from the building, with 17 more block residents—including four children—injured.
According to the Ukrainian military, another deadly attack on a former boarding school that was repurposed to house old people left four people dead and over 80 injured.
This structure was located in Sudzha, in the Russian district of Kursk, which is under Ukrainian occupation and has seen some of the bloodiest fighting in recent months.
The former school “primarily housed old people and the sick, as well as people who lost their homes as a result of military action,” according to Vladimir Sinelnikov, an activist from Kursk.
Dozens of locals were inside the building getting ready to leave when the incident occurred, according to Ukraine’s military general staff.
“The Russians knew that the building housed mainly civilians – local residents, including women and children.”
They added: “Everything possible is being done to rescue the survivors.”
Ukraine’s military spokesperson, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, reported that about 100 persons were buried under debris at the explosion site.
Russian targeted strikes on civilians are common, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy.
He wrote on X: “They destroyed the building even though dozens of civilians were there.
“This is how Russia waged war against Chechnya decades ago.
“They killed Syrians the same way. Russian bombs destroy Ukrainian homes the same way.”
Ukraine was accused of carrying out “a targeted missile strike on a boarding school in the city of Sudzha” by Russia’s defense ministry on Sunday morning.
Russia bombarded Ukraine with 165 lethal drones and missiles on Saturday, including both strikes, the Ukrainian air force said.
Ukraine claimed to have redirected a “significant number” of missiles, shot down 56 drones, and redirected 61 Russian drones.
Spokesman for the Ukrainian government Andriy Yermak stated: “This is Russia’s real face.
“Murderers who have absolutely no respect for any leader in the world or any other nation.”
Putin launched the Kh-22 missiles at Ukraine using bombers equipped with nuclear weapons, such as Tu-95s and Tu-22s.
The magnitude of the attack close to the alliance’s eastern border prompted NATO to scramble its fighter jets in Poland.
Additionally, it readied its anti-air defenses in case drones or missiles entered its airspace.
At the end of a bloody few days, Zelensky said: “This week, there have been hundreds of strikes on our cities and communities — nearly 50 missiles, nearly 660 strike drones, and more than 760 guided aerial bombs were launched by the enemy against our people.
“Russia will not stop on its own. The world must force it to end this brutal and unprovoked aggression.
“It is imperative that we strengthen our defences. We need better protection. Air defence, long-range weapons, sanctions pressure.
“All of this helps protect life here in Ukraine.
“Thank you to everyone in the world who understands the importance of this and continues to believe in and support our country.”