Russian Drone Strike Kills Father and Three Children in Ukraine, Pregnant Mother Injured

A Russian drone strike has killed a father and his three children in eastern Ukraine, while leaving the children’s pregnant mother seriously wounded, Ukrainian officials said.

The attack occurred overnight in a residential area amid continued aerial assaults targeting civilian infrastructure and homes. According to regional authorities, the drone struck a private house, causing severe destruction and trapping the family inside. Emergency responders recovered the bodies of the father and the three children from the rubble.

The children were reported to be of school age. The pregnant mother survived the strike but sustained serious injuries and was transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Doctors said she is receiving intensive care, and efforts are being made to stabilise her condition.

Ukrainian officials condemned the attack as another example of civilian areas being targeted in the ongoing conflict. They stated that rescue teams worked through the night to clear debris and assist affected residents. Local authorities also initiated damage assessments of nearby homes impacted by the blast.

Russia has intensified its use of drones in recent months, launching repeated waves of aerial attacks across several Ukrainian regions. Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately targeting residential neighborhoods, while Russia maintains that its strikes are aimed at military and strategic infrastructure.

The incident adds to the growing civilian toll since the full-scale invasion began, with international observers continuing to monitor reports of casualties and damage to non-military sites.

Investigations into the specific type of drone used and the circumstances of the strike are ongoing.

SOURCES: Reuters, The Associated Press (AP )