Russian Missile Attack Kills Over 50 Civilians in Eastern Ukraine, Including a Child
A devastating missile attack in eastern Ukraine claimed the lives of more than 50 civilians, including a 6-year-old child, as they gathered for a memorial service in a small village. The incident, one of the deadliest attacks in the ongoing war, was condemned by officials in Kyiv.
The missile strike occurred in the village of Hroza, located in the eastern Kharkiv region. Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 51 people were killed, wiping out nearly one-sixth of the entire village. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was attending a summit of European leaders at the time, seeking support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
President Zelenskyy expressed his outrage on the messaging app Telegram, describing the attack as a “demonstrably brutal Russian crime” and an act of terrorism that must be stopped. Disturbing images shown on Ukrainian television depicted rescuers sifting through the rubble and recovering bodies from the destroyed buildings.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko revealed that the missile hit a cafe where approximately 60 villagers were attending a memorial service. He stated that each family was represented in the cafe, highlighting the tragic toll on the village and emphasizing the need for accountability. The nearby grocery store was also destroyed, resulting in additional casualties.
Preliminary findings suggest that a Russian Iskander missile was used in the attack, according to Klymenko’s statement on Telegram. Rescue teams, along with police and local residents, continue to search for survivors under the debris.
Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry accused Russia of deliberately and barbarically attacking civilian targets. Denise Brown, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, expressed her horror at the situation, noting that intentionally targeting civilians constitutes a war crime.
In response to the accusations, Moscow has not provided immediate comment. The Russian government has consistently denied intentionally targeting civilians in previous conflicts, despite evidence to the contrary.
The missile strike on Hroza marks one of the deadliest attacks on civilians during the war. In April of last year, a train station in Kramatorsk was hit by cluster munitions, resulting in the deaths of 60 people. Additionally, an investigation by the Associated Press revealed that approximately 600 individuals may have been killed in a bombing of a theater in Mariupol, where civilians sought refuge. Last month, Ukrainian officials blamed another missile strike in Kostiantynivka on Russia, although The New York Times reported evidence suggesting an errant Ukrainian missile may have been the cause.
Hroza was temporarily captured by Russian forces early in the war but was regained by Ukrainian troops last fall. President Zelenskyy, who visited the area just two days prior, remains hopeful that his country’s allies will continue to provide military aid, despite signs of growing divisions in Europe and the U.S. Congress.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin of Russia appeared to downplay the situation, referring to the disruption in funding for Ukraine as a temporary “glitch” after the deal to avoid a shutdown did not include any new aid. The incident further highlights the urgent need to address the ongoing aggression and protect Ukraine from further terror.
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