At Least 20 Dead Including Three Children After Russian Missile Strike On Central Ukraine City

Topline

At least 20 people were killed on Thursday after a barrage of Russian missiles struck residential and office buildings in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia, in a continuation of strikes on civilian sites far away from the battlefield which Ukrainian officials have decried as acts of terrorism by Moscow.

Key Facts

In a series of posts on Facebook, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service said an infant and two other children were among those killed in Thursday’s strike.

The emergency service also shared graphic images from the site of the incident showing heavily damaged buildings, several dead bodies, severed body parts and what appears to be a stroller with a dead infant.

In a post on Telegram, Ukrainian National Police chief Ihor Klymenko said the city was hit by three Russian missiles and it managed to damage office buildings, residential apartments and part of an emergency medical center in Vinnytsia.

There were conflicting reports on the number of injuries with the State Emergency Service saying 52 were injured while Klymenko said 90 people had sought medical help.

The Russian military is yet to officially comment on the strike, which has taken place far away from the battlefield in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.

Crucial Quote

“Every day, Russia kills civilians, kills Ukrainian children, carries out missile attack[s] on civilian facilities where there is no military target. What is this if not an open act of terrorism,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a post on Telegram after the strike on Vinnytsia.

Key Background

As Russia’s military campaign in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions intensifies it has also carried out multiple strikes on civilian targets. Earlier this week, at least 24 people were killed after Russian missiles struck a residential block in the Ukrainian-controlled town of Chasiv Yar in the Donestk province. Last month, at least 21 people were killed after Russian missiles struck a residential building in the port city of Odesa. A few days prior to that a similar strike on a crowded mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk left at least 19 people dead and drew strong international condemnation with the G-7 calling it “abominable.” Following the mall attack, Zelensky even urged the United States to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

Further Reading

A rare strike on the city of Vinnytsia kills 12, including a young child, officials say (New York Times)