### Tragedy Strikes Ukraine: Family Wiped Out by Russian Missile

In the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, rescuers discovered the lifeless body of two-month-old Ulyana Kulyk amid the ruins of her home, which was struck by a Russian missile on Monday morning. The attack claimed the lives of her mother Olena, 32, and her brothers Kyrylo, 10, and Demyd, 2. Ulyana's father, Maksym Kulyk, survived miraculously, as he had been in the kitchen preparing breakfast at the time of the explosion.

Ukrainian authorities reported that this missile strike was part of a series of attacks targeting southern and central cities. Kryvyi Rih, about 70 kilometers from the southern front line, has experienced nearly weekly assaults on residential buildings, many resulting in fatalities. UNICEF noted that stories like Ulyana's are becoming tragically commonplace in Ukraine, highlighting that in just the first 12 days of November, at least four children have been killed and more than twenty injured.

Photographs and videos from the scene of the strike reveal the sheer force of the ballistic missile, which obliterated a significant portion of the five-story apartment block. Maksym Kulyk, confronted with an enormous personal loss, tearfully addressed mourners at the family’s joint funeral on Thursday. The ceremony involved four coffins adorned with flowers and toys, symbolizing the shattered lives of his loved ones.

As Maksym poignantly spoke to his wife and children during the funeral, another air raid siren wailed, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict. Olena, who had been on maternity leave from her job at Steel Service, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, was described by Maksym as his “soul, blood, heart, support, and strength.” His deep love for his family was evident as he reminisced about each of them, from his “best friend” Kyrylo to the joy brought by his youngest, Demyd, and his hopes for baby Ulyana.

The impact of these relentless attacks was further underscored by Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, who noted that all three children were born after Russia initiated its aggression in 2014. Recent missile strikes in Kryvyi Rih have been particularly deadly, with attacks earlier in the month killing four people and injuring more than a dozen, while a September bombardment claimed at least 10 lives, including a 12-year-old child.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that within a single week, Russia had unleashed over 900 bombs, 30 missiles, and nearly 500 drones, primarily targeting civilian areas and crucial infrastructure. Both he and his wife, Olena Zelenska, who hail from Kryvyi Rih, continue to implore international allies for more immediate and robust assistance to protect Ukrainian lives. Olena Zelenska, reacting to the heartbreaking loss of those three children, emphasized that mere words are insufficient to stop such tragedies and called on the global community to act without delay.

As Ukraine marks 1,000 days since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, rising concerns about potential shifts in international support loom, particularly with geopolitical dynamics potentially changing with a future U.S. administration.