Russian Drone Strikes Kill Civilians, Including Child, in Ukraine
Russian drone strikes in Ukraine killed at least five people, including a one-year-old child, in Pryluky, and injured seventeen in Kharkiv. The attacks targeted residential areas, damaging apartment buildings. Ukrainian officials condemned the strikes as "insidious terror," highlighting attacks on sleeping civilians. Six Shahed-type drones struck Pryluky, with further strikes reported in Kharkiv, causing fires and hospitalizations. The attacks occurred hours after reports of Trump calling Putin.
Unpacked:
Russia is using Shahed-type drones in these strikes. These are Iranian-made drones that have been frequently deployed by Russian forces to target Ukrainian positions and civilian infrastructure.
Yes, Russian forces have repeatedly carried out deliberate and systematic drone attacks against civilian targets throughout the invasion, with widespread incidents documented in various Ukrainian regions, including Kherson and Kharkiv.
International organizations, including the United Nations, have condemned these attacks. The UN Commission recently concluded that Russian drone attacks on civilians amount to crimes against humanity, citing their widespread and systematic nature.
There is no direct evidence linking Trump’s reported call to Putin with the timing of these drone attacks. The attacks occurred shortly after the call was reported, but no official statements have established a causal relationship.