Officials: At least 90 children have been killed in Ukraine since start of Russian invasion
At least 90 children have been killed and more than 100 injured since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Ukrainian general prosecutor's office said Monday.
"The highest number of victims are in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kherson, Mykolayiv, and Zhytomyr regions," the office said in a statement.
Russia has denied targeted civilians, a claim rejected by Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska. "When Russia says that it is not 'waging war against civilians,' I call out the names of these murdered children first," she wrote in an Instagram post.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The first child reported killed in the invasion was identified as 10-year-old Polina. On Feb. 27, Polina and her family were trying to escape Kyiv when Russian forces reportedly opened fire on their vehicle. Her parents, Anton Kudrin and Svetlana Zapadynskaya, were both killed, and Polina died the next day. Her younger brother, 5-year-old Zemyon, also died of his injuries days after the attack. Polina's 13-year-old sister Sofia is the only survivor. Family friend Tatyana Zolotina told The Independent the children were "sweet, funny, and kind," and "we will never forgive Russia and the Russians for their death."
Alisa Hlans, 7, died when several bombs were dropped on her school in Sumy Oblast. Her grandfather tried to shield her with his body, and died in the attack, The Independent reports. A witness to the shelling said "everyone" and "everything" at the school was "covered with blood." Six people were killed in the attack.
Other victims include three children in the besieged city of Mariupol who died in separate attacks — 16-year-old Iliya was killed when bombs fell on the school near where he was playing soccer; 18-month old Kirill died after his father rushed him to the hospital following heavy shelling in his neighborhood; and an unidentified child was killed when Russia attacked a maternity hospital in the city.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Kamala Harris' 'pragmatic' plan for the economy
The Explainer Tax credits for manufacturing, small businesses, affordable housing
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
TV to watch in October, from 'Disclaimer' and 'The Franchise'
The Week Recommends An HBO comedy from the 'Veep' creator, a mystery from master filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón and a reboot of an '80s classic
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Is death a thing of the past?
Under The Radar Scientists discover multicellular life forms emerging from the cells of dead organisms, raising profound ethical questions
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What happens if Russia declares war on Nato?
Today's Big Question Fears are growing after Vladimir Putin's 'unusually specific warning' to Western governments
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Missile escalation: will long-range rockets make a difference to Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Kyiv is hoping for permission to use US missiles to strike deep into Russian territory
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Atesh: the Ukrainian partisans taking on Russia
Under The Radar Underground resistance fighters are risking their lives to defend their country
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
'Second only to a nuclear bomb' – the controversial arms Russia is using in Ukraine
The Explainer Thermobaric bombs 'capable of vaporising human bodies' have been used against Ukraine
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The peaceful archipelago that may take up arms
Under The Radar Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left the Åland Islands 'peculiarly vulnerable'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What can Ukraine gain from Russia incursion?
Today's Big Question Gamble to boost morale, improve negotiating position and show the West it can still win is 'paying off – for now'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Who would fight Europe's war against Russia?
Today's Big Question Western armies are struggling to recruit and retain soldiers amid fears Moscow's war in Ukraine may spread across Europe
By Abby Wilson Published
-
How Russia trains its deep undercover spies
The Explainer Moscow's elite 'illegal' sleeper agents pose as foreigners and live under false identities known as 'legends', often for decades
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published