Russian Missile Strike Claims 50 Lives in Ukraine's Deadliest Civilian Assault

  Russian Missile Strike Claims 50 Lives in Ukraine's Deadliest Civilian Assault

Russian Missile Strike Claims 50 Lives in Ukraine's Deadliest Civilian Assault

A Russian missile tore into a small village in eastern Ukraine on Thursday as residents were gathering for a memorial service, killing more than 50 civilians, including a 6-year-old child, in one of the war’s deadliest attacks, officials in Kyiv said.

The Tragic Day in Hroza

The strike killed at least 51 people and wiped out around 1/6th of the entire village of Hroza, in the eastern Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian officials. It came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a summit of European leaders in a bid to shore up support for his country's fight amid fears of a U.S.-led wobble.

A Deliberate Act of Terrorism

"A demonstrably brutal Russian crime — a missile attack on an ordinary grocery store, a completely deliberate act of terrorism," Zelenskyy wrote on the messaging app Telegram. "Russian terror must be stopped."

Scenes of Horror and Tragedy

Images broadcast on Ukrainian television showed rescuers picking through piles of rubble and mangled concrete, lifting blanket-swaddled bodies from the razed buildings.

Targeting a Memorial Service

The missile struck a café where around 60 of Hroza's residents were attending a memorial service for another villager who had died, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Ukrainian television. The village was only home to about 330 people, he said.

A Heinous War Crime

"Someone from each family was present in the café," he said. "It's terrible for the village, for the whole of Ukraine. This is another heinous war crime committed by the Russians for which they must be held responsible."

Civilian Casualties

Some of those killed were in the grocery store next door, which was also destroyed in the blast, he said.

Russian Involvement

Klymenko wrote on Telegram that "preliminary findings" suggested the attack was carried out using a Russian Iskander missile.

The Grim Search Continues

“There may still be people under the rubble of the destroyed shop and café, so rescuers, police and local residents continue to sort through the debris,” he said.

International Condemnation

Ukraine's foreign ministry accused Russia of having "deliberately and barbarically attacked civilian targets."

Denise Brown, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, said in a statement that she was "appalled by the reports of a Russian strike that, shortly ago, ripped apart the village of Hroza."

A Barbaric Consequence

She called images from the scene showing dead bodies strewn on the ground "absolutely horrifying," and noted intentionally attacking civilians was a war crime.

Russia's Response

Moscow did not immediately comment on the accusations from Kyiv. It has consistently denied targeting civilians, despite documentary and witness evidence showing that it has often killed and injured nonmilitary personnel, as in previous conflicts.

One of the Deadliest Attacks

The missile strike on Hroza would be one of the deadliest attacks on civilians during the war.

Past Tragedies

In April last year, cluster munitions hit a train station in Kramatorsk, killing 60 people. And an Associated Press investigation found that around 600 people may have been killed after a theater in Mariupol was bombed while civilians sheltered inside — although this total has not been confirmed.

Recent Incidents

Last month, another missile strike in Kostiantynivka, a city 80 miles to the south of Hroza, was blamed on Russia by Ukrainian officials. An investigation by The New York Times said there was evidence it was in fact an errant Ukrainian missile gone off course.

A Recovered Village

Hroza was among the parts of the Kharkiv region captured by Russian forces advancing early in the war, but it was taken back by Ukrainian troops last fall. Only on Tuesday, Zelenskyy had visited the area to inspect equipment supplied by the West.

Ukraine's Determination

The Ukrainian leader has insisted he remains confident that his country's allies will continue to send military aid, despite growing signs of splits in Europe and the U.S. Congress.

“Russia needs this and similar terrorist attacks for one reason only: to make its genocidal aggression the new normal for the entire world,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on his Telegram channel. “We are now focused with European leaders, in particular, on how to strengthen our air defense, reinforce our troops, and protect our country from terror.”

Putin's Response

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin was speaking at a forum in the Black Sea on Thursday.

Putin appeared to brush off what he called a temporary “glitch” in funding for Ukraine after the deal to avoid a shutdown didn't include any new aid.

Conclusion

The tragic Russian missile strike on Hroza has left an indelible mark on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As the world condemns this act of violence against civilians, it underscores the urgent need for peace and the protection of innocent lives in this war-torn region.

FAQs

1. What is the current situation in Ukraine following this missile strike?
   The missile strike in Hroza has intensified concerns about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with calls for international intervention to prevent further civilian casualties.

2. How has Russia responded to these accusations?
   Russia has not yet officially responded to the accusations of targeting civilians in Hroza, but it has consistently denied such allegations in the past.