KYIV, Ukraine — A nighttime assault by a Russian drone resulted in severe damage to an apartment building in northeastern Ukraine, leading to the deaths of at least six individuals and injuring nine more, according to officials who released the news on Thursday.
The attack occurred around 1 a.m. when a Shahed drone struck the building in the city of Sumy, causing the destruction of a wall and windows. The administration of the Sumy region reported that four individuals were successfully rescued from the debris, which included a child among the injured. Authorities also evacuated around 120 residents from the vicinity of the incident.
Among the deceased were three older couples, as confirmed by the Sumy Regional Prosecutors’ Office. In memory of the victims, the regional administration has declared a two-day mourning period for the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the incident as “a terrible tragedy” and labeled it “a terrible Russian crime.” The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began nearly three years ago, has led to the deaths of over 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to data from the United Nations.
Civilians continue to face dire conditions due to Russian assaults targeting the power infrastructure, which have deprived many of essential heating and running water. Numerous residents have been evacuated from areas along the nearly 1,000-kilometer (or 600-mile) front line, where Ukrainian forces are struggling to fend off the larger Russian military presence.
The use of Shahed drones by Russian forces has escalated, with the drones now carrying an increased payload of 90 kilograms (approximately 200 pounds) of explosives and shrapnel intended to heighten casualty rates. Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, shared this information via Telegram.
Yermak also posted photos purportedly showing the types of warheads used by the Shahed drones, including images of small metal fragments contained within a metal cylinder.
Recent combat has been particularly intense in the eastern Donetsk region, which is partially occupied by Russian troops, who seem committed to capturing the entire area in the months ahead. A separate artillery strike in the city of Kramatorsk within Donetsk resulted in injuries to 13 individuals, including two young children, as reported by Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk region, on his Telegram channel.
Filashkin warned those remaining in Donetsk, urging them to prioritize their safety. “Anyone who still remains in the Donetsk region is putting themselves in mortal danger. Take care of yourself! Evacuate,” he advised.
In a broader context, the Russian military launched more than 80 drones targeting various parts of Ukraine overnight, a pattern of nighttime assaults for which the country’s air force had been preparing. While many drones were intercepted or disrupted using electronic countermeasures, some still managed to reach their targets.
Additionally, in the southern Odesa region, Russian drone strikes caused damage to a hospital and two apartment complexes, as noted by the regional head, Oleh Kiper. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from these attacks.
