• Russian airstrike kills at least 24 civilians in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.
• Victims were lined up to collect pensions at the time of the attack.
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy demands a strong global response against Moscow.
• More than 12,000 civilians have died during the ongoing conflict.
• Zelenskyy emphasized the need for tougher sanctions and international action.

On Tuesday, a Russian airstrike in the village of Yarova, located in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, resulted in the deaths of at least 24 civilians who were collecting their pensions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “brutally savage,” arguing it targeted “ordinary civilians” at a time when they were vulnerable, calling for urgent action from Kyiv's allies to pressure Moscow, according to Reuters.

The strike occurred around 11 a.m., as residents were waiting in line for pension disbursements. Eyewitness accounts highlight the chaos following the explosion, with many bodies strewn about alongside a destroyed vehicle serving as a mobile post office, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Reuters.

In his statements, Zelenskyy described the airstrike as part of a pattern of aggression that underscores the plight of civilians, noting that “the world must not remain silent.” He urgently called for a coordinated international response from the United States, Europe, and the G20—a sentiment echoed by multiple sources including Newsweek and India Times.

Local officials, including Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin, confirmed the attack resulted in significant casualties, highlighting that many victims were elderly individuals who relied on cash pensions due to a lack of access to banking facilities, a point reported by both Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

This attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with Ukrainian officials noting the death toll of civilians has now exceeded 12,000 since the war began. As calls for accountability mount, international leaders, including the European Council President, have urged for immediate sanctions against Russia, underscoring their growing impatience with the ongoing violence, as detailed in reports by Dawn and TRT Global.