Russian drones kill 4, wound 5 including three minors in Donetsk Oblast
As a result of a night attack by Russian drones in the Donetsk region, 4 civilians were killed, and 5 others were injured, including 3 minors, according to the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office.
On the eve at 10:50 p.m., Russian troops shelled the village of Cherkaske in the Cherkaske “hromada,” a local government area that includes one or more nearby settlements, in the Kramatorsk District. The private sector was targeted by enemy “Geran-2” UAVs.
As a result of the hits on residential buildings, a 32-year-old man and his 5-year-old son, as well as two of their neighbors, were killed. Additionally, the mother of the deceased boy and three girls aged 12, 14, and 16 sustained physical injuries. A 34-year-old local resident was also wounded.
At the moment of the hits, the victims were inside their homes.
The injured were diagnosed with blast injuries, burns, and abrasions. Doctors assess the condition of the wounded as severe or moderate. Two households were destroyed.
Under the procedural guidance of the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office, a pre-trial investigation has been initiated in criminal proceedings regarding a war crime committed by the Russian occupiers.
Within 24 hours of taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump has not secured an end to Russia’s war as he promised. Furthermore, numerous Ukrainian and international experts point out that the U.S., as a guarantor state under the Budapest Memorandum, is pressuring Kyiv into capitulation.
Ukrainian experts point out that countries including China, North Korea, Hungary, Slovakia, Iran, and Brazil assist Moscow in killing Ukrainians in its war against Ukraine by funding the Russian budget through trade.
Newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Andriy Melnyk stated in an interview with Suspilne broadcaster that Brazil paid Russia almost $10 billion for 6.5 million tons of diesel.
Over the last three and a half years, China has become a critically important partner for the Russian Federation. While Beijing officially declares its neutrality, Western intelligence and analytical studies indicate otherwise. For instance, China does not supply weapons directly to Russia, but it provides critically important components, including machinery, microelectronics, specialized chemicals, optics, gunpowder, and ammunition components.
In 2024, then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that 70% of heavy industrial equipment and 90% of all microelectronics are sourced from China, which then flows into Russia.
Furthermore, according to recent NATO intelligence data, 80% of all Russian drones consist of Chinese parts.
According to The Telegraph newspaper, Chinese firms supplied sanctioned Russian companies with at least £47 million ($57.4 million USD) worth of parts between 2023 and 2024. Almost a quarter of the value of these supplies went to firms that produce Shahed-type drones.
Moreover, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine stated that China is also providing intelligence to Russia. The Kremlin used this data to prepare missile strikes, particularly against objects belonging to foreign investors, though the specific targets were not clarified. China denies these accusations.
Following the imposition of Western sanctions, Beijing has become a key supplier to Russia of cars, clothing, raw materials, and a range of other goods. In 2023, Russia-China trade turnover set a historic record, exceeding $240 billion, which is more than 60% higher than before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Chinese customs data.
Reuters also reported that China is buying oil and gas from Russia. The average daily volume of oil is more than two million barrels per day. During Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing, the countries signed a document for the supply of 106 billion cubic meters of gas per year to China.
Photo credit: the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office
Keep up with ZMINA on X and LinkedIn – and help us improve by answering a few quick questions here about our English-language coverage.
