On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the tranquil village of Yarova in Ukraine’s frontline Donetsk region was shattered by a Russian airstrike that left 24 people dead—most of them elderly civilians waiting in line to collect their pension payments. Nearly 20 others were injured in the attack, which has since drawn condemnation from around the world and thrust the already-devastating conflict back into the global spotlight. According to multiple reports, the strike was part of a broader escalation of violence in the region, with the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of mounting civilian casualties and a deepening humanitarian crisis as winter approaches.
South Africa, a country that has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between Russia and the West, issued an unusually critical statement in response to the attack. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation declared on Wednesday, September 10, that “deliberate targeting of non-combatants is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.” The department’s statement continued: “South Africa is deeply concerned about the indiscriminate attacks on civilians emanating from a Russian attack, which killed pensioners.” As reported by Bloomberg and Moneyweb, this condemnation marks a notably sharper tone than South Africa has previously taken toward Moscow, despite the countries' close ties as fellow BRICS members.
The attack in Yarova is just the latest in a series of increasingly deadly strikes in eastern Ukraine. According to the United Nations' top humanitarian official in the country, Assistant Secretary-General Matthias Schmale, “This lasting violence continues to tear lives apart. In recent days, the Donetsk region has seen a rise in civilian casualties and damage as hostilities have intensified.” Schmale’s statement, published by UN News, underscored the devastating impact of the war on ordinary Ukrainians, particularly the elderly who have chosen to remain in their homes despite the ever-present danger.
WHO’s representative in Ukraine, Dr. Jarno Habicht, provided further context in a briefing from Kyiv. He described the most recent wave of Russian attacks as one of the largest since the conflict began in February 2022, involving more than 800 drones and missiles. “This is a reality [which] many aid workers, humanitarians, but most importantly, millions of Ukrainians are living day and night,” Habicht said, as reported by UN News. He also highlighted a troubling 12 percent year-on-year increase in attacks on health infrastructure, with one in four strikes targeting ambulances. “If we think about non-war environments, when anybody calls an ambulance, this is for a reason… This is for a reason of life and death. But in Ukraine, the ambulances are under attack.”
The consequences of such attacks go well beyond immediate casualties. Medical facilities across Ukraine are struggling to keep up with the influx of trauma patients, and the ongoing strikes have disrupted power and water supplies at a critical time. With another harsh winter looming, Dr. Habicht emphasized the need to keep heating stations open and ensure clean water is available in hospitals. He also drew attention to the immense mental health burden facing Ukrainians, noting that WHO’s latest assessment in April 2025 found that seven in ten people reported anxiety, depression, or severe stress—directly linked to attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Despite the scale of the crisis, humanitarian organizations are struggling to secure the funding needed to mount an effective response. According to WHO, only 35.5 percent of the required $46 million has been made available, allowing aid groups to reach just one million people out of a three million target. “Recovery cannot wait” for patients with chronic diseases such as cancer and heart conditions, Dr. Habicht warned, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
South Africa’s response to the Yarova attack is particularly significant in light of its longstanding policy of non-alignment in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2022, Pretoria has sought to balance its relationships with both Moscow and Western capitals, repeatedly calling for a ceasefire and urging all parties to abide by international law. Yet, as the violence has escalated and reports of civilian casualties have mounted, South Africa has found itself under increasing pressure to take a firmer stand.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has played an active role in international efforts to mediate an end to the conflict. In early August 2025, he held back-to-back phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to a statement from the South African presidency, Ramaphosa was briefed by both leaders on their positions regarding the ongoing war and the prospects for peace. The Kremlin reportedly expressed gratitude for South Africa’s involvement in advancing peace talks, while Zelensky praised Pretoria’s ongoing aid in pursuing a peaceful resolution and reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to lasting peace.
South Africa’s diplomatic balancing act was further highlighted when President Ramaphosa welcomed President Zelensky to Africa for the first time. During the visit, Ramaphosa reiterated his country’s desire to act as a mediator and called for a de-escalation of hostilities. “South Africa not only calls for a de-escalation and ceasefire, but also implores all parties to the conflict to abide by international law,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in its recent statement. “These breaches of international law escalate current global tensions.”
This is not the first instance of Pretoria speaking out against Russian actions in Ukraine. Back in August, South Africa announced it would investigate reports of Russian companies recruiting young women for overseas work, which may have been linked to Moscow’s war effort through drone factories. Throughout, South Africa has attempted to maintain its non-aligned stance, seeking to preserve bilateral ties with both sides while upholding the principles of international humanitarian law.
The attack on Yarova and the subsequent international response have once again highlighted the immense human cost of the conflict in Ukraine. For those living in frontline communities, the threat of violence is a daily reality, and the prospect of another winter without adequate power or water looms large. Aid workers, already stretched thin, are bracing for further challenges as the fighting shows no sign of abating.
As South Africa and other nations continue to call for peace and accountability, the world watches to see whether these diplomatic efforts can make a difference in a war that has already claimed thousands of lives and upended millions more. For now, the tragedy in Yarova stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a resolution—and the heavy toll that continued violence exacts on the most vulnerable.