Four Dead, Including Toddlers, in Russian Attack on Eastern Ukraine

A Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Bogodukhiv has killed four people, including three children, according to regional prosecutors.

The victims included two one-year-old boys, a two-year-old girl, and their 34-year-old father. The attack destroyed the family’s private home, trapping them under the rubble.

The children’s mother, who is eight months pregnant, survived but sustained severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, burns, and acoustic barotrauma.

Authorities have opened a pre-trial investigation into the incident, classifying it as a potential war crime targeting civilians.

Bogodukhiv, located near the Russian border in Kharkiv region, has seen increased attacks on infrastructure in recent months.

While Ukrainian and Russian officials have engaged in US-mediated talks and conducted a recent prisoner swap, a resolution to the nearly four-year conflict remains distant.

Since the invasion began in February 2022, the UN reports that around 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, with 2025 marking the deadliest year.