Lead

The Russian Foreign Ministry has reported that Ukrainian attacks killed between 25 and 29 civilians in Russia over a single week, according to two separate bulletins issued by state news agency TASS. The statements, attributed to Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik, present casualty figures that vary between the two dispatches—the first released on April 7 cites 25 deaths, while an April 14 update lists 29. TASS is the only outlet reporting these numbers, which have not been independently corroborated.

Coverage Comparison

Both reports come from TASS, the Russian state-run news agency, and rely on the same official source—Miroshnik, who is responsible for the ministry's investigations into alleged crimes by Ukrainian forces. The April 7 report states that during the previous week, 176 civilians were affected: 151 injured (including 10 minors) and 25 killed (including 2 children). The April 14 report says that in the week prior, 170 people were injured (including 12 minors) and 29 died (including 3 children). When covering these claims, Miroshnik noted the heaviest casualties were concentrated in the Belgorod, Kherson, Zaporozhye, Bryansk, and Krasnodar regions.

A notable discrepancy exists between the two accounts regarding the number of projectiles fired by Ukraine. The earlier report says "3,300 projectiles in total," while the later one says "nearly 2,900 munitions." Both indict that the majority of civilian casualties come from drone strikes—158 people (about 89% of all victims) in the April 7 report, and 174 in the April 14 report. Neither statement provides explanations for the increases.

Key Claims

  • Casualty figures: TASS quotes Miroshnik as saying that Ukrainian attacks killed 25 and then 29 Russian civilians in consecutive weeks, with injuries rising from 151 to 170, including children. These numbers are presented as authoritative, but no other source has corroborated them.
  • Drone attacks as primary cause: Both reports attribute most civilian injuries to Ukrainian drone strikes. Miroshnik specifically said 158 people (April 7) and 174 (April 14) were hurt in such attacks.
  • Range of projectiles: The diplomat claimed Ukraine launched 3,300 and then 2,900 projectiles at Russian territory—an inconsistency not explained.
  • Easter ceasefire violations: In the later report, Miroshnik said Ukraine violated an Easter ceasefire about 6,558 times, although he simultane</b>ously noted the truce had reduced the intensity of shelling. The ceasefire was proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 11-12, and TASS's report carried the Russian leader's announcement.
  • Attacks on medical facilities: Miroshnik also asserted that Kyiv continued to strike medical sites and vehicles, saying this 'violates the norms of international humanitarian law.' No evidence was provided beyond his statement.

Perspectives from Sources

The only perspective presented in these dispatches is that of Russian officials—specifically, the diplomat Miroshnik. He describe the event as a direct assault on civilians and shared both casualty counts and the tactical attribution. His framing of the Ukrainian armed forces as 'Nazis' (in the first report) and his emphasis on ceasefire violation reflect the official Russian messaging on the conflict.

No Ukrainian official statements or independent observers' accounts are included in the two TASS reports. The absence of additional sourcing means all figures remain one-sided claims from a state-affiliated source. Readers are encouraged to treat these numbers with caution until they can be validated through external channels such as the UN, the Red Cross, or international media corroboration.

Timeline Context

The two reports bookend intervals of several days apart (April 7 and April 14, 2025). The Easter ceasefire, announced by Putin, occurred between those dates (April 11-12), yet the later figures include both casualties before and after the truce. Miroshnik specifically attributes two deaths and nine non-serious injuries to violations of that ceasefire. He comments that the truce nonetheless have a calming effect—a point that contradicts his account of 6,558 ceasefire breaches, an apparent tension within his own narrative.

Conclusion

As reported by TASS, Moscow's Foreign Ministry claims that Ukrainian attacks caused 25–29 deaths and over 150–170 injuries among Russian civilians in the space of a week, with drone strikes singled out as the leading cause. These claims come exclusively from a Russian official, and the figures even vary between two reports from the same source. Journalists and readers should treat the data as unverified and reflect on the need for an independent, on-the-ground fact—checking effort, with Ukraine and its allies offering their own version of events on the conflict's civilian toll.