At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in a series of Russian bomb and drone attacks across Ukraine on Thursday, according to Ukrainian authorities. The strikes coincided with Ukraine's commemoration of the children killed by Russia since the full-scale invasion began more than four years ago.

Ukrainian officials reported that the Donetsk region was hit by Russian bomb and drone attacks, resulting in at least five deaths and 11 injuries. The National Police of Ukraine's press service stated that seven settlements were targeted, with 42 civilian objects destroyed, including 16 residential buildings. Extensive damage was reported to apartment buildings, cars, a medical institution, an evacuation vehicle, and an ambulance.

The Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine experienced its deadliest Russian attack, with at least three people killed and 21 others injured by missile and drone strikes, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. In the same region, the village of Yampil in the Shostka district was attacked, leaving at least two dead and four injured women hospitalized, stated Oleg Hrygorov, head of the Sumy regional military administration.

Further attacks in central Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in at least one death and five injuries from Russian shelling. Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the region’s military administration, reported that the Nikopol, Marhanetska, Chervonogryhorivska, Pokrovska, and Myrivska communities were affected. Fires broke out in Slobozhanske and Petrykivska, including at a logistics company building, which was extinguished.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the occasion by noting that at least 707 children have been killed by Russia during the ongoing conflict. The precise number of casualties and the full extent of damage from the latest attacks are still being assessed by authorities.

The relentless shelling and bombing campaigns have continued to inflict significant civilian casualties and damage critical infrastructure across Ukraine. International human rights organizations have documented widespread violations of international humanitarian law by both sides, but the majority of civilian deaths and destruction have been attributed to Russian forces.

These attacks highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, with civilian populations bearing the brunt of the prolonged conflict. The destruction of homes, medical facilities, and essential services poses significant challenges for recovery and rebuilding efforts, even as the fighting continues.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for increased international support, including advanced air defense systems, to better protect their cities and towns from Russian aerial assaults. The ongoing loss of life, particularly among children, underscores the severe human cost of the war.