Russian troops have pressed a grinding offensive across much of the eastern Donetsk region as diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the 3 1/2-year-old war have largely stalled.

Zelenskiy said a guided bomb had struck the village of Yarova, about 24km from the city of Sloviansk, a Ukrainian stronghold, and several kilometres behind the front line.

“Directly on people. Ordinary civilians. At the very moment when pensions were being disbursed,” he wrote on X.

The president posted video footage showing bodies strewn across the ground and debris.

“Twenty-three people were killed and another 18 people were wounded,” said interior minister Ihor Klymenko.

He added that some victims were still being identified using DNA.

“The world must not remain silent,” Zelenskiy said.

“The world must not remain idle. A response is needed from the US. A response is needed from Europe. A response is needed from the G20,” he added.

Russia did not immediately comment on Zelenskiy’s remarks. Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but tens of thousands have died since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Last week, a Russian airstrike near the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv killed two people from a Danish-sponsored humanitarian demining mission.

“Is this what Russia means when it talks about peace? When will Russia stop killing people?” wrote European council president Antonio Costa on X.