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.
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.
-
What does 'conquering' Gaza mean to Israel?
Today's Big Question Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has approved a plan to displace much of the Palestinian population while seizing and occupying the territory on a long-term basis.
-
Casey Means: the controversial 'wellness influencer' nominated for surgeon general
In the Spotlight Means has drawn controversy for her closeness to RFK Jr.
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
The secret lives of Russian saboteurs
Under The Radar Moscow is recruiting criminal agents to sow chaos and fear among its enemies
-
Ukraine-Russia: is peace deal possible after Easter truce?
Today's Big Question 'Decisive week' will tell if Putin's surprise move was cynical PR stunt or genuine step towards ending war
-
What's behind Russia's biggest conscription drive in years?
Today's Big Question Putin calls up 160,000 men, sending a threatening message to Ukraine and Baltic states
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?
Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington
-
Russia's spies: skulduggery in Great Yarmouth
In the Spotlight 'Amateurish' spy ring in Norfolk seaside town exposes the decline of Russian intelligence
-
Can Ukraine make peace with Trump in Saudi Arabia?
Talking Point Zelenskyy and his team must somehow navigate the gap between US president's 'demands and threats'
-
Ukraine: where do Trump's loyalties really lie?
Today's Big Question 'Extraordinary pivot' by US president – driven by personal, ideological and strategic factors – has 'upended decades of hawkish foreign policy toward Russia'
-
Is Europe's defence too reliant on the US?
Today's Big Question As the UK and EU plan to 're-arm', how easy will it be to disentangle from US equipment and support?