- विज्ञापन -
Kyiv: Amid the ongoing conflict between Kyiv and Moscow, at least 17 people were killed and several others were injured after three Russian missiles hit a busy downtown district of Chernihiv in Ukraine just before noon on Wednesday (local time), The New York Times reported, citing Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the death toll, reported by the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general, might increase. He blamed Ukraine’s lack of air defences for the loss of life. Ukraine’s prosecutor general said that 61 people had been reported wounded.
In a statement, Zelenskyy said, “This would not have happened if Ukraine had received enough air defence equipment and if the world’s determination to counter Russian terror was also sufficient,” according to The New York Times report.
He said, “Terrorists can destroy lives only when they first manage to intimidate those who are able to stop terror and protect life.” The district where the missiles hit is a crowded part of the city near a university and hospital.
Speaking over the phone, Oleksandr Lomako, the head of Chernihiv city government, said, “I personally saw dead people on the road killed by shrapnel and smashed cars covered in blood.” He said, “I looked through the dates of birth of the victims; so many young people there.”
He said that rescue workers were still carrying out search for victims in the rubble. He added, “This strike is just one more confirmation that Ukraine urgently needs air defense systems and ammunition,” The New York Times reported.
Chernihiv is located on the border with Russia and missiles are often seen overhead. Russia launches attacks at towns and cities across Ukraine. Lomako said, “They used to be downed,” adding, “But not any more, it seems.”
