21 Killed in Russian Strike on Pension Queue in Eastern Ukraine, Zelensky Says
Kyiv, Ukraine | September 9, 2025 – At least 21 people have been killed in a Russian air strike on the village of Yarova in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the victims were civilians gathered to collect their pensions when the strike occurred. Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin confirmed that emergency services were at the scene and said the number of wounded was “as many as those killed.”
Yarova, situated north of Sloviansk and close to the front line, has faced repeated shelling as Russian forces continue a slow advance in the east.
If verified, the incident would mark one of the deadliest attacks on Ukrainian civilians in recent weeks, more than 42 months into Russia’s full-scale invasion.
There has been no immediate response from Moscow regarding the reports.
