A drone strike attributed to Russian forces has resulted in the tragic deaths of a Ukrainian father and his three young children in the Kharkiv region. The attack, which occurred overnight, involved a Russian-made Shahed suicide drone that destroyed the family’s home in Bohodukhiv. According to the regional prosecutor’s office, 34-year-old Hryhorii Shykula, his two-year-old twin boys, and his one-year-old daughter were killed in the blast.
The children’s mother, Olha Shykula, who is 35 weeks pregnant, survived but suffered severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury, burns, and hearing loss. Rescue workers managed to pull her from the wreckage of their home, but she remains in critical condition. Local officials have expressed profound sorrow over the incident, noting the devastating impact on the family.
Community Mourns Loss and Calls for Justice
Bohodukhiv’s mayor, Volodymyr Bielyi, shared his condolences on social media, stating, “We lost what is most precious — our future.” He emphasized the unbearable loss for the grieving mother and declared three days of mourning for the family. Bielyi lamented the inability to find solace through words or prayers for a mother mourning her children, asserting, “We will endure. We will remember. We will never forgive this horror on our land.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as indicative of Russia’s unreliability in pursuing peace. In a statement, he remarked that each attack on civilians undermines trust in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. “As long as Russia continues to kill people and destroy our infrastructure, there will not be sufficient public trust even in active diplomacy,” he stated. Zelensky urged for strong pressure on Russia and clear security guarantees for Ukraine to halt the violence.
Officials reported that this drone strike was part of a larger offensive, with the Ukrainian Air Force indicating that 129 long-range drones were launched at Ukraine overnight. The violence continues to escalate as both sides engage in military actions.
Counterattacks and Ongoing Conflict
In response, Ukrainian forces conducted their own airstrike, targeting a Russian industrial facility in the city of Volgograd, resulting in a significant fire. Local authorities confirmed the incident as part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to counter Russian aggression.
As the conflict persists, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The recent tragedy in Bohodukhiv serves as a stark reminder of the conflict’s devastating impact on families and communities across Ukraine.
