Myrola Puzyk, 70, who lost his wife Tetiana Puzyk, 68, who was killed while she was receiving her pension in the village of Yarova during a Russian aerial strike, seats in the ambulance during evacuation in Sloviansk, Donetsk region, Tuesday, Sept.9, 2025.
A Russian glide bomb attack has devastated the small village of Yarova in eastern Ukraine. The strike hit Tuesday morning as residents queued outside to collect their pensions. At least 24 people, mostly elderly, were killed, and 19 others were injured, according to Ukraine’s Emergency Service.
The tragedy unfolded less than 10 kilometers from the frontline in the Donetsk region. Regional governor Vadym Filashkin confirmed that 23 of the victims were pensioners.
Pension Queue Turns Into Horror
Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror. Hennadii Trush, a resident of Yarova, lost his wife while she waited to collect her mother’s pension. His bedridden mother-in-law survived, but Trush fled the village with his elderly mother, who had to be carried on a stretcher.
Fighting back tears, Trush recalled the devastation. “Before, strikes hit the outskirts. This time it was right in the center of the village.”
Photos released by Ukrainian officials showed bodies lying near a damaged white postal car. The vehicle, used as a mobile post office, had been delivering pensions after the village’s only post office closed last week.
Glide Bombs Leave Trail of Destruction
Glide bombs, retrofitted Soviet-era weapons, have been increasingly used in Russia’s aerial campaign. Some now weigh up to 3,000 pounds, six times heavier than when first deployed in 2022. Their destructive power has turned entire villages into ruins.
In many rural Ukrainian communities, retirees still depend on physical pensions delivered monthly. With no ATMs and limited digital access, elderly residents must line up in public—making them vulnerable targets.
Zelenskyy Calls for Stronger Global Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it “frankly brutal.” He urged world leaders to step up sanctions against Russia.
“The world should not remain silent. Strong action is needed so that Russia stops bringing death,” he posted on Telegram.
The United Nations estimates more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the war began in February 2022. Tuesday’s strike adds to the grim toll.
Poland on High Alert
The attack also triggered heightened security measures in neighboring Poland. Fearing spillover, Polish armed forces moved to their highest level of alert late Tuesday.
Poland’s Operational Command confirmed that allied aircraft, air defense, and radar systems were active. Officials described the measures as “preventative,” designed to secure airspace and protect citizens near the border.
Warsaw’s Chopin Airport temporarily suspended flights due to the restricted airspace, though the facility itself remained open.
“Whole Village Was on Fire”
Police and rescue workers described chaotic scenes after the bomb struck. Pavlo Diachenko, head of communications for Donetsk police, said: “The whole village was on fire. Private houses were burning, and people tried to put out flames with their hands.”
Drone activity was also reported in the area, raising fears of further strikes. Despite the risks, many civilians remain in Donetsk villages because they cannot relocate or must care for disabled relatives.
Rising Concerns Over Ukraine’s Defenses
The strike comes amid Russia’s intensified aerial assaults. On Sunday, Russia launched its largest drone and missile attack on Kyiv since the war began.
Western officials fear Ukraine’s air defenses are being depleted faster than they can be replenished. U.S. and European leaders are considering new sanctions, including tighter restrictions on Russian oil.
Families Left in Grief
For many in Yarova, the loss is personal and devastating. At the local morgue, families struggled to identify loved ones, many burned or mutilated by the blast.
Zinaida Hrymailo, who lost her cousin, described the horror: “They were all lying in one heap. My sister has been completely burned.” Her cousin’s paralyzed husband now remains alone in the destroyed village.
The attack highlights the vulnerability of Ukraine’s most defenseless citizens—its elderly—who simply stand in line for pensions but end up paying the price of war.
