An entire family - a married couple and their two young sons - have been killed in an overnight Russian drone attack in Ukraine's north-eastern Sumy region, local officials have said.
Regional head Oleh Hryhorov said a residential building was hit in the village of Chernechchyna. The bodies of the two children, aged four and six, and their parents were later recovered from the wreckage.
Ukraine's air force said its units shot down 46 out of 65 Russian drones across the country - but there were 19 direct hits in six locations.
Russia's military has not commented. In a statement, it said 81 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight in five Russian regions. No casualties were reported.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In a post on Telegram, Hryhorov accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting a residential building in Chernechchyna. He stated the loss of an entire family was a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive.
Ukrainian firefighters tackled blazes at the partially destroyed buildings as the community mourned this tragic loss. The recent escalation in aerial assaults has prompted Ukraine to urge its Western allies for more advanced air defense systems and long-range missiles to counter the ongoing threats.
As the international community continues to react, the reality of the war remains dire for many civilians in Ukraine.
