A grim incident unfolded as Russian artillery shelling hit the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, resulting in the tragic loss of a family of four, among other casualties.
Responding to the devastating attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to take retaliatory measures.
President Zelensky expressed his determination to respond forcefully to the actions of the occupiers, emphasizing a commitment to hold Russia accountable for its actions.
In a video message shared on Telegram, Zelensky underscored the Ukrainian resolve to counter Russia’s aggression with actions like destroying equipment, targeting headquarters, and more.
The attack in the Kherson region left a grim toll, with seven individuals confirmed dead and approximately 15 others sustaining injuries.
Among the victims were a family of four in the village of Shyroka Balka, where Russian artillery fire claimed the lives of a father, mother, a 12-year-old son, and a newborn baby girl aged about three weeks old.
Throughout the day, the region experienced a barrage of 17 shelling incidents carried out by the Russian army, as noted by President Zelensky.
In response to the tragedy, a regional day of mourning was announced in the Kherson region.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko shared the heart-wrenching news that the baby girl’s parents were also among the victims.
Tragically, the baby’s 12-year-old brother, who sustained life-threatening injuries, later succumbed in the hospital.
Another two adults lost their lives in the neighboring village of Stanislav, highlighting the continued danger posed by Russian shelling in the area.
These villages, situated on the western bank of the Dnipro River as it meets the Black Sea, are within the firing range of Russian artillery, even though Russian troops withdrew from the region last autumn.
The devastating incident adds to a growing toll of child casualties due to the conflict.
Ukrainian prosecutors revealed that over 500 children have lost their lives as a result of Russian military actions since Moscow’s invasion more than 17 months ago.
An additional 1,100 children have sustained injuries of varying degrees, with the actual numbers likely higher due to ongoing investigations.
The regions most heavily impacted by these casualties include Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson.
(dpa/NAN)
