Ukraine says at least 23 killed in Russian airstrike on Donetsk region

Lyman Mayor Oleksandr Zhuravlev told Ukraine's national public broadcaster Suspilne that the attack took place at about 10.40 am local time (0740GMT).

"At the moment, 23 people have died and 18 have been injured," Zhuravlev was quoted as saying, further noting that three of those injured are in serious condition.

“A brutally savage Russian airstrike with an aerial bomb on the rural settlement of Yarova in the Donetsk region,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an initial statement on the US social media company X.

Zelenskyy wrote the attack took place “at the very moment when pensions were being disbursed,” and that over 20 people were killed.

“Such Russian strikes must not be left without an appropriate response from the world … A response is needed from the United States. A response is needed from Europe. A response is needed from the G20. Strong actions are needed to make Russia stop bringing death,” he added.

Meanwhile, Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin wrote on Telegram that at least 21 people were killed and “as many people” were injured in the attack.

He added that emergency services are currently at the scene helping those affected and determining the exact consequences of the strike.

Ukrainian authorities gave no further details, while Russian authorities have not immediately commented on the issue.

Yarova is located about 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) northwest of the city of Lyman, a key front in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in Donetsk.

It is also about 23 kilometers (14 miles) north of the city of Sloviansk, near Kramatorsk, the provisional seat of the eastern Ukrainian region since Moscow seized control of Donetsk city in 2014.