Russian Smerch Strike Kills Family in Cherkaskoye, 13-Year-Old Among Dead

Russian forces launched a Smerch multiple rocket launcher strike with cluster munitions against the village of Cherkaskoye in the Donetsk region on the morning of October 12, 2026, killing three civilians from one family. The victims were a 13-year-old girl, her 36-year-old mother, and her 62-year-old grandmother. A single strike destroyed their private home and took the lives of all three.

Casualties and Damage

Four additional residents were wounded in the attack: three men born in 1948, 1955, and 1964, as well as an 18-year-old young man. Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, confirmed the death toll and called on residents to evacuate the region.

Context

The strike comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Russia has continued attacking Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and residential areas despite the announced agreement. The Donetsk region remains among the most heavily bombarded parts of Ukraine throughout the war.