A Russian drone strike in Ukraine’s Pryluky kills five, including a one-year-old. President Zelenskyy urges global sanctions, citing 632 child deaths since war began.
Russian Drone Strikes Kill Five in Ukraine’s Pryluky; President Zelenskyy Calls for Global Sanctions
Kyiv, Ukraine – June 5, 2025:
A tragic drone strike in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region has claimed the lives of five civilians, including a one-year-old child, as part of a wider aerial assault by Russian forces. The attack targeted the city of Pryluky, located about 100 kilometers east of Kyiv, where a Russian "Shahed" drone struck a residential home.
The victims included a local firefighter's family—his wife, daughter, and infant grandson, all killed while the firefighter was away responding to other drone attacks in the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the incident as “another act of Russian terrorism,” emphasizing that this marks the 632nd child death since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
“This is not just a loss, it is three generations of life uprooted,” said Ukraine's National Police.
Wider Drone and Missile Assault
The strike in Pryluky was part of a massive overnight offensive involving 103 drones and one ballistic missile, affecting several regions including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Odesa, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson.
In Kharkiv, drone and missile attacks left 19 civilians injured, including four children and a 93-year-old woman. Damage was reported across seven apartment buildings and multiple vehicles. A missile also struck a civilian site, though no injuries were reported there.
"Russia is deliberately hitting civilians. It is targeting homes where children should be sleeping, not dying," said Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
Is This a Retaliation?
The drone strikes follow reports of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields, which allegedly caused significant damage. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone call with former US President Donald Trump, suggested that Moscow would need to “respond” to these Ukrainian operations.
Trump described the call as “positive” but acknowledged it would not immediately lead to peace. Ukrainian officials, however, criticized what they called “diplomatic delay tactics”, arguing that Russia uses peace talks as a way to continue its military operations without consequence.
Global Reactions and Sanctions
President Zelenskyy has reiterated calls for stronger international sanctions and increased global pressure on Russia. He warned that insufficient condemnation and inaction from the global community only enables further violence.
“War can only end through strength. Moscow must be pressured by all available means,” Zelenskyy posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Ukraine has appealed to the United States, European Union, and international institutions to enforce maximum sanctions and support its call for accountability.
Civilian Toll and Legal Concerns
The international community has increasingly scrutinized attacks on non-military targets. Ukrainian officials labeled the drone strikes as potential war crimes, asserting that the deliberate targeting of civilians violates international humanitarian law.
“This is a war crime,” said Klymenko. “And there will be responsibility—on the battlefield, in courts, and in history.”
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