A Russian glide bomb struck a village in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday as residents queued outside to collect their pensions, killing at least 21 people and injuring around two dozen others, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and local officials.
The attack hit Yarova village in Donetsk region, less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the front line, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. It marked another deadly strike on civilians in the three-year conflict, which has claimed more than 12,000 civilian lives, according to the United Nations.
Calling the strike “frankly brutal,” Zelenskyy urged tougher international sanctions to hold Russia accountable. “The world should not remain silent … strong action is needed so that Russia stops bringing death,” he wrote.
The assault comes as U.S.-led peace initiatives have stalled and Russia has stepped up aerial attacks. On Sunday, Moscow launched the largest drone and missile barrage on Kyiv since the war began in February 2022.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to convince Russian leader Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire and talks with Zelenskyy, Moscow has intensified its bombing campaign. Western officials worry Ukraine is depleting its air defenses faster than replacements can arrive.
U.S. and European officials met at the Treasury Department in Washington on Monday to explore new economic measures against Russia, including additional sanctions and oil tariffs, according to a person familiar with the talks. Discussions were expected to continue Tuesday.
Glide bombs, Soviet-era munitions modified with guidance systems, have been devastating eastern Ukraine for months. Some now weigh up to 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms), six times heavier than those first deployed in 2022.
In rural Ukrainian villages, pensions are typically distributed in cash at local post offices or mobile postal vans due to limited access to banking services. Photos from the scene showed bodies near a damaged Ukrposhta vehicle parked under trees, apparently serving as a mobile post office.
Ukrposhta head Ihor Smilianskyi said the van was positioned under cover to avoid detection, but “apparently, someone gave away the coordinates.”
Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin confirmed 21 deaths and 21 injuries, calling the strike “pure terrorism.” Emergency services were deployed to the site, he added.
Yarova was occupied by Russian forces in 2022 but recaptured by Ukrainian troops later that year.