Kyiv, Ukraine – A devastating overnight Russian airstrike on the outskirts of Kyiv claimed the lives of a 4-year-old boy and his 35-year-old father, Ukrainian officials reported on Sunday.
The strike, which occurred just east of the capital, also left three others wounded, including a teenage boy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the missile used in the attack was a North Korean-made missile, further heightening tensions in the ongoing conflict.
While details of the missile strike remain scarce, Ukrainian emergency services reported that debris from a downed Russian missile struck the victims’ home in the Brovary district.
Footage released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service depicted workers desperately digging through piles of rubble in the dead of night, ultimately uncovering the lifeless body of the young child from beneath the wreckage.
“According to preliminary information, the Russians used a North Korean missile in this attack—yet another deliberate terrorist strike against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added that experts were still in the process of examining the weapon used in the strike.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of escalating aggression, with the Ukrainian military reporting that Sunday’s overnight strike also included 57 Iranian-made Shahed attack drones launched across Ukraine, 53 of which were intercepted and destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses. The extent of damage from the remaining drones is still being assessed.
Russian forces reportedly fired a total of four North Korean-made KN-23 missiles during the assault. However, the fate of the other three missiles has not been detailed, and Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm the exact trajectory or impact sites of these additional missiles.
Kyrylo Budanov, a top adviser to President Zelenskyy, indicated that the Brovary fatalities resulted from debris after Ukrainian air defenses intercepted the missile.
Despite the tragic outcome, Budanov underscored the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defense systems, which have been bolstered by Western-provided military aid.
President Zelenskyy, in a forceful statement, called for a “full-fledged air shield” from Ukraine’s international allies, stressing the urgent need to protect Ukrainian civilians from the ongoing aerial onslaught.
He also renewed his commitment to seeking justice for the victims of the war, promising that Ukraine would continue to hold Russia accountable for its actions.
The attack comes amid heightened international scrutiny of Russia’s military tactics, particularly its alleged targeting of civilian areas.
Moscow has consistently denied targeting civilians, despite mounting evidence and reports from human rights organizations. The conflict, now in its 29th month, has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians and displaced millions more.
Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of continued international pressure on Russia to end the war, stating, “Ukraine has launched an investigation into this latest attack, and we are working tirelessly to restore justice.” He vowed to leverage all diplomatic channels to ensure Moscow faces consequences for its ongoing aggression.
