Eight people were killed and 21 were injured after Russia launched missile strikes in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The attack, which hit at least seven locations, was confirmed to have been carried out using S-300 surface-to-air missiles. These missiles have often been used by Russia to hit ground targets.
The head of the Donetsk region military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, confirmed that the missiles hit residential areas, including multi-apartment buildings and “ordinary civilian buildings.”
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In his statement to Ukrainian national television, Kyrylenko described the attack as one of the most massive this year.
The head of the Sloviansk city military administration, Vadym Liakh, added that the missiles had hit several districts of the city. Rescue operations are still ongoing, and Kyrylenko urged civilians to evacuate to safer areas.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed his condolences to the victims and their families and condemned the attack in his nightly address. He also accused Russia of displaying its “brutality” during its invasion and vowed to hold them accountable for their actions.
Zelensky stated that “there will be fair accountability for every manifestation of terrorism,” and that “we will not leave a single trace of Russia on our land.”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused widespread damage and loss of life, with thousands of people killed and many more injured.
The missile strikes in Sloviansk are just the latest example of the devastating impact of this conflict on the Ukrainian people.
As the conflict continues, Ukraine is calling on the international community to help put an end to the aggression by Russia.
In his statement, Kyrylenko urged the international community to take action against Russia and to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The missile strikes in Sloviansk serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and the devastating impact it is having on the people of Ukraine.
The international community must act now to help bring an end to the aggression and to ensure that the people of Ukraine can live in peace and security.
