'Brutal' Russian strike kills more than 20 Ukrainian civilians queuing up to cash pensions

A barbaric Russian airstrike has killed more than 20 Ukrainian civilians queuing up to cash their pensions. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on his official Telegram channel: "A frankly brutal Russian air bomb strike on the village of Yarova in the Donetsk region. Directly at people. Ordinary civilians.

"At the moment when pensions were being issued. According to preliminary information, the number of dead is more than 20 people. There are no words... Condolences to all the relatives and friends of the deceased.

Mr Zelensky, who shared a shocking clip in which several bodies are clearly visible, continued: "Such strikes by Russia should definitely not remain without an appropriate reaction from the world.

"The Russians continue to destroy life, but they avoid new strong sanctions, new strong strikes.

"The world should not remain silent.

"The world should not remain inactive. The United States needs a reaction.

"Europe needs a reaction. The G20 needs a reaction. Strong action is needed so that Russia stops bringing death."

Governor Vadym Filashkin, posting on Telegram, said: "At least 21 people were killed and as many were injured - these are the consequences of the terrible attack on Yarova as of 12:30. The Russians attacked people during the issuance of pensions.

"This is not military action - this is pure terrorism. Rescuers, medics, police, local authorities are currently working at the scene. We are helping the victims and establishing the exact consequences of this crime. I will report updates in due course."

The same clip was shared by former Ukrainian interior ministry spokesman Anton Geraschenko, who commented: "Russia launched an aviation bomb on civilians as pensions were being paid.

"According to preliminary information, over 20 people were killed - President Zelenskyy.

"Brutal killing of Ukrainian civilians for no reason. Russia feels its impunity and continues its murders."

Separately, senior Ukrainian officials led 60 foreign diplomats on a tour of damaged government offices in the heart of Kyiv on Monday, a day after Russia's largest aerial attack on Ukraine since its all-out invasion began more than three years ago.

Russia's assault on Sunday involved more than 800 drones and decoys and occurred as months of US-led peace efforts appear to be getting nowhere.

Four people were killed, including a mother and her infant, as drones hit apartment buildings.

A plume of smoke rose from the capital's main government building, where top officials have their offices.

It's believed to be the first time a Russian attack has struck the 10-story, Soviet-style building, which was built almost a century ago and has an imposing half-circle facade.

During the diplomats' tour, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko showed them burned-out offices littered with charred debris.

Svyrydenko called the attack a "clear signal that Russia does not want peace and is openly mocking the diplomatic efforts of the civilized world."