Family was asleep: mother and 9-year-old son killed in Russian strike on Sumy Oblast, father and grandmother suffer severe burns

In the village of Stepanivka in Sumy Oblast, nine-year-old Hlib Kovtunenko and his mother, 29-year-old Olha, were killed on the morning of 14 August when Russia struck their home with two jet-powered drones.

Details: The boy attended Buryn City Lyceum No. 1, a specialised secondary school, and his mother had graduated from the same institution, according to a post on the school's page.

"War takes the most precious thing – the lives of our children and of those who shape our community's future. This terrible tragedy has been a heavy blow for the entire teaching staff, the student body and the parent community," the post said.

According to Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, the child and the woman were killed at the scene. The house has been left in ruins by extensive destruction and fire.

Ukraine's national public broadcaster Suspilne reported that Russian forces began attacking the village after 05:00. The family was asleep at the time.

Olha's father-in-law said his son and wife sustained severe burns and are being taken to Kyiv for surgery. The boy who was killed had celebrated his birthday in July.

Besides the Kovtunenko family, two more people were injured.

Background:

• On the night of 13-14 August, the Russians launched more than a hundred drones at Ukraine. Air defence destroyed most of them.
• However, hits were recorded at 11 locations. Russian forces struck a residential building in the town of Smila, Cherkasy Oblast, with a drone, injuring five people.

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