A Russian drone strike has killed a father and his three young children in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, local authorities confirmed, underscoring the continued toll of aerial attacks on civilians nearly four years into the war.
According to the regional prosecutor’s office, the drone struck a residential building in the town of Bohodukhiv, completely destroying the brick house and setting it on fire. The explosion trapped the family beneath the rubble, leaving rescue workers to search through debris in freezing conditions.
The victims were identified as a 34 year old father and his three children, twin boys aged two and their one year old sister. Emergency responders managed to pull the children’s mother from the wreckage alive. She was 35 weeks pregnant and suffered blast injuries, burns, hearing loss and a traumatic brain injury. Local officials said she remains in hospital in serious condition.
Authorities stated that the drone involved in the attack was a Geran 2, described Ukraine as a Russian produced version of the Iranian designed Shahed drone, which has frequently been used in long range strikes across Ukrainian territory.
Bohodukhiv, located about 22 kilometres from the Russian border, had a pre war population of roughly 15,000 people. It was not immediately clear whether any military facilities were situated near the home that was hit.
Mayor Volodymyr Bielyi announced three days of mourning in the town, with national flags lowered and public events cancelled. In a public statement, he described the loss as devastating for the community and expressed support for the surviving mother.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strike demonstrated the urgent need for stronger international pressure on Moscow and reinforced security guarantees for Ukraine. He argued that ongoing attacks weaken confidence in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that 2025 was the deadliest year for civilians since 2022. The mission recorded 2,514 civilians killed and 12,142 injured last year, a 31 percent increase compared with 2024, as bombardments intensified beyond frontline areas.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for senior Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, over alleged war crimes. Ukraine accuses Russian forces of targeting civilian infrastructure, allegations Moscow denies.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 129 long range drones overnight in the latest wave of strikes. Ukrainian officials continue to seek additional air defence systems from Western partners as they attempt to counter sustained drone and missile attacks across the country.
