A Russian strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv has killed two 15-year-old girls and wounded at least 25 other people, according to local officials. The attack, which hit a residential area on Tuesday afternoon, adds to the mounting civilian toll of a war that continues to devastate communities far from the front lines.
Oleksandr Lomako, the acting mayor of Chernihiv, confirmed the deaths and injuries in a statement, saying that rescue teams had worked through the evening to clear debris and search for survivors. The two victims were identified as schoolgirls, and local authorities have declared a day of mourning in the city.
Chernihiv, a historic city near the border with Belarus, has been repeatedly targeted since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The latest strike comes as Ukraine and Russia trade accusations over violations of a US-brokered ceasefire that is meant to pave the way for broader peace talks.
Ceasefire opens window for demining
In the southern Kherson region, the partial ceasefire has allowed Ukrainian sappers to begin clearing minefields along a key stretch of the front line. The demining operation is aimed at reopening humanitarian corridors for civilians who have been cut off from food, water, and medical supplies for months.
According to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, teams have already removed hundreds of anti-personnel mines and unexploded ordnance from fields and roads near the village of Pravdyne, about 30 kilometres from the front. The work is slow and dangerous, but officials say it is essential to restore safe passage for residents and aid convoys.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States earlier this month, has largely held in the south, though both sides report sporadic shelling. In Chernihiv, however, there is no such respite. The city lies outside the agreed ceasefire zone, and Russian forces have continued to launch missile and drone attacks across northern Ukraine.
European leaders have condemned the latest strike. In Brussels, a spokesperson for the European Commission said the EU stands with Ukraine and reiterated calls for accountability for war crimes. The bloc has already provided billions of euros in military and humanitarian aid, and discussions are ongoing about using frozen Russian assets to help rebuild the country.
Meanwhile, NATO allies are weighing how to accelerate deliveries of air defence systems, including Patriot missiles, to protect cities like Chernihiv. Some member states fear that political delays in Washington could leave Ukraine vulnerable in the coming months. As concerns grow over Patriot missile deliveries, European capitals are pressing for faster decisions.
The human cost of the war remains staggering. Since the invasion began, the UN has recorded more than 12,000 civilian deaths, though the true figure is likely far higher. Attacks on residential areas, schools, and hospitals have become a grim pattern, and international investigators are documenting evidence of possible war crimes.
For the families of the two girls killed in Chernihiv, there is little consolation in diplomatic efforts. The city's residents have grown accustomed to air raid sirens, but each strike brings fresh grief. Local volunteers have set up a makeshift memorial near the site of the attack, with flowers and candles placed among the rubble.
As the ceasefire in the south offers a glimmer of hope, the violence elsewhere underscores the fragility of any pause. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said that only a comprehensive peace agreement, backed by security guarantees, can end the suffering. Until then, cities like Chernihiv remain in the crosshairs.
