Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said at least 24 people died after a Russian glide bomb hit civilians who were collecting pensions at a village in Yarova in Donetsk region.

Sharing details about the strike, the President wrote on X: "Horrendous Russian strike today on the village of Yarova in Donetsk region. A glide bomb hit civilians as they were collecting pensions."

Zelenslyy said 19 people were wounded in the incident.

He said: "As of now, at least 24 killed, 19 wounded. Russia continues killings, and itʼs terrifying that there is still no strong global response to it."

Many elderly civilians have decided to stay at home in frontline communities, despite the escalating danger from Russia’s continuing offensive, said Assistant Secretary-General Matthias Schmale, the UN’s top humanitarian official in the country.

“This lasting violence continues to tear lives apart. In recent days, the Donetsk region has seen a rise in civilian casualties and damage as hostilities have intensified,” he said in a statement.

“On behalf of the United Nations and the humanitarian community, we stand with all families grieving their loved ones and with all those injured. Attacks affecting civilians as they go about their daily lives are unconscionable.”

‘Relentless’ attacks on healthcare

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Speaking from Kyiv in the wake of deadly strikes on the Ukrainian capital by Russia on Sunday, WHO’s representative in the country, Dr. Jarno Habicht, told reporters in Geneva that more than 800 drones and missiles were involved in the latest attack, making it one of the biggest since the start of the war in February 2022.

“This is a reality [which] many aid workers, humanitarians, but most importantly, millions of Ukrainians are living day and night,” he said.