Kyiv, 3 March 2024 (TDI): The death toll rose to 10 on Sunday from a Russian drone strike that destroyed an apartment block in Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa the previous day when a local official reported that the body of a third child was pulled from the rubble, along with that of the child’s mother.
On Sunday morning, Ukraine’s interior ministry announced that rescue workers recovered the bodies of an infant and the child’s mother, bringing the total number of children killed in the attack to three.
“The mother tried to cover the 8-month-old child with her own [body]. She tried to save them. They were found in a firm embrace,” the ministry said in a statement.
A newborn was among the dead, according to Ukrainian officials on Saturday, when falling debris from the Russian drone strike of an Iranian-made drone, known as the Shahed, hit the apartment block. Russia has been reported to have launched eight drones in total.
Russia has used many of these long-range flying drones to target different areas of Ukraine throughout the war.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, declared later on Saturday that a second kid had also died as a result of a Russian drone strike.
“Tymofiy was 4 months old. Mark was about to turn 3 years old. My condolences to all of their close ones,” Zelenskyy said in a statement.
Moreover, Zelenskyy urged the Western allies to boost Ukraine’s air defenses in the wake of the deadly Russian drone strike.
“Delays in the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, as well as air defense to protect our people, unfortunately, result in such losses. … Ukraine has never requested anything more than what is necessary to protect lives,” Zelenskyy stated.
Ukraine is experiencing resource challenges as the war moves into its third year, which is made worse by a $60 billion aid package that is deadlocked in the US Congress.
State media of both Countries stated that on Saturday night in Moscow, China’s special envoy on Ukraine held discussions with senior Russian officials. This was the first stop on a European tour that will consist of visits to Brussels, Poland, Germany, and France.
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According to China’s foreign ministry, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Special Representative Li Hui agreed that negotiations are the only way to put an end to the fighting in Ukraine.
Li’s second visit since May falls in line with Kyiv’s attempts to get Beijing involved in peace talks that are being brokered by Switzerland.
China declares that it is impartial in Russia’s dispute with Ukraine, but it still keeps strong ties with Moscow, as seen by regular official visits and joint military drills.
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