Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian family of four in Sumy region

A married couple and their two young sons have been killed in a Russian drone strike that tore through a residential home in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region, officials have confirmed.

Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said the family died when their house in the village of Chernechchyna was hit during overnight attacks on 30 September. The bodies of the parents and their sons, aged four and six, were later recovered from the rubble.

“This is a tragedy that we will never forget or forgive,” Hryhorov said, accusing Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilians.

Ukraine shoots down most drones – but 19 direct hits recorded

Ukraine’s air force reported that its defences intercepted 46 out of 65 drones launched by Russia across the country overnight. However, 19 drones still struck six different locations, including the fatal hit in Sumy.

Emergency services later confirmed that two other residential buildings in Chernechchyna were partially destroyed, sharing images of firefighters battling flames amid collapsed walls and scorched debris.

Russia has not commented on the Sumy deaths. Its defence ministry claimed instead that it destroyed 81 Ukrainian drones over five Russian regions overnight, reporting no casualties.

War intensifies as Kyiv pushes for more Western support

The attack comes amid a surge in Russian aerial assaults in recent weeks, with Ukraine facing near-daily barrages of drones and missiles. Kyiv continues to urge its Western allies for advanced air defence systems and long-range missiles capable of striking deep into Russia.

Last week, US Vice-President JD Vance confirmed that Washington was considering Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could put Moscow within range.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €2bn (£1.7bn) package to scale up Ukraine’s drone capabilities, describing it as both a lifeline for Kyiv and a technological boost for the EU.

Despite diplomatic efforts led by the US and Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected repeated ceasefire calls. Western leaders accuse him of dragging out the war while his forces sustain heavy casualties on the front line.