Horrified residents have likened a destroyed Ukrainian residence to a “mass grave” following a suspected Russian missile strike that tragically claimed the lives of ten individuals from the same family. The victims include parents Artem Voronov, 47, and Olena, 41, along with seven of their children and an 18-month-old grandson.
The incident occurred as Russian forces sought retaliation against Ukraine for recent incursions into Russian territory by targeting President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih. The assault involved 70 missiles and over 280 drones, resulting in the destruction or damage of numerous civilian properties and infrastructure, as stated by Ukrainian President Zelensky.
President Zelensky was reportedly unaware of the family tragedy when he initially addressed the situation. The strike hit two residences in the village of Radushne in the Dnipropetrovsk region, leading to the loss of the children, including Mark, Dominika, Viorika, Zakharii, Azarii Ilai, Federika, and Emilia.
The couple’s grandson, also named Artem, was just 18 months old. Reports suggest his father serves in the Ukrainian military in the artillery division. Matvii Voronov, one of their sons, learned of the devastating news through an online forum in the local village.
Efforts are ongoing to identify the victims’ remains, with Voronov learning about his family’s fate through neighbors. An elderly relative of the children mentioned that the couple had ten children and three grandchildren, with the youngest grandchild present during the strike.
The strike obliterated two homes and caused damage to five others, sparking fires that were later extinguished. The local channel Pershyi Miskyi. Kryvyi Rih emphasized the tragic loss of the family, highlighting the impact on innocent lives that should have been allowed to thrive.
The attack occurred amidst a series of major offensives launched by the Kremlin across various regions of Ukraine, alarming neighboring countries like Poland. Polish authorities detected a crater in the eastern Lublin Voivodeship following an air raid alert triggered during Russia’s extensive missile and drone assault. Reports suggested potential incursions into Polish airspace during the large-scale attack on Ukrainian territories.
