World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Russian drone strike on Kharkiv Oblast park kills six
A Russian drone struck a park in Nova Vodolaha, in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, on October 19.
Six people were killed, including children, but accounts differ on whether two or three children died.
At least 15 people were injured, including children.
The drone hit while families were in the central park, according to Ukraine’s interior minister.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into a possible war crime.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for air defenses and said sanctions against Russia should not be lifted until the killings stop.
A Russian drone strike on a park in Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv Oblast, killed six people on Oct. 19, Ukrainian officials said.
At least 15 people were injured, including children.
The sources differ on the number of children killed: the Straits Times reported three, while the Kyiv Independent’s casualty list named two girls and later identified a 14-year-old victim.
The drone hit the central park while families and children were there.
Prosecutors opened a pre-trial investigation into a possible war crime.
- Who
- Six people were killed, including children; at least 15 people were injured.
- What
- A Russian drone struck a park.
- When
- Oct. 19, 2026, at around 4:30 p.m. local time.
- Where
- The central park in Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine.
- Why
- The reason for the attack was not stated. Ukraine’s interior minister said it made no military sense.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A drone struck the central park in Nova Vodolaha, according to the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office.
Ukrainian officials reported six deaths and at least 15 injuries from the strike.
Prosecutors opened a pre-trial investigation into a possible war crime.
- Deaths
- 6 people
- Injuries
- At least 15 people, including 7 children, according to the Kyiv Independent
- Location
- Central park in Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv Oblast
- Reported drone type
- Geran-3, according to preliminary findings cited by the Kyiv Independent
- Investigation
- Pre-trial investigation into a possible war crime
3 sources
What people are saying
This cannot be treated as just another news story. The world must not get used to the killing of Ukrainian children and civilians.
We must protect lives. Ukraine needs air defense.
The attack made no military sense.