Russian missiles striking the center of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine have resulted in the tragic deaths of eight individuals, with three of them being children.
In the recent attack on the city, which is under Ukrainian control but in close proximity to Russian-occupied regions, a restaurant and shopping area were targeted, leading to ongoing rescue efforts to locate individuals trapped under the rubble. Ukrainian emergency services have reported that at least 56 people were injured in the attack.
According to a witness interviewed by the BBC, the scene was filled with chaos, with dead and injured individuals, as well as people expressing their distress. Reports indicate that a 17-year-old girl was among the casualties of the attack, which occurred at approximately 7:30 PM local time. Additionally, officials have noted that the epicenter of the explosion included residential buildings.
There is significant damage to the buildings as seen through social media and drone footage. Some of the buildings have been reduced to rubble. A Belgian freelance journalist named Arnaud De Decker stated that he was at the Ria Lounge restaurant which was hit just moments after he left. He mentioned that there are still people trapped under the rubble because the restaurant is quite large and that he can now hear people screaming from beneath the rubble as rescue workers are attempting to rescue them. It is estimated that around 80 staff members and customers were present at the restaurant during the attack, so he worried that the number of casualties could be high
According to officials, there are reports of at least 40 people being injured, including an eight-month-old baby and three individuals from outside the country. Currently, a rescue operation is in progress in the city center, with security agencies providing assistance to the emergency services and helping evacuate the victims. Local authorities have stated that the area had a large number of civilians present at the time of the missile strike.
Regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, speaking to Ukrainian television, expressed that these were public eateries in the city center, filled with civilians. Arnaud De Decker, the Belgian journalist, described the restaurant as a local “meeting place” that was frequented by soldiers, journalists, and volunteers. The Kramatorsk city council reported that Russian forces also attacked a nearby village.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that this attack serves as proof to Ukraine and the world that Russia should face “defeat and a trial, with fair and just courts to hold all Russian killers and terrorists accountable”. The White House criticized Russia for its “violent attacks” on Ukraine. Kramatorsk has frequently been struck by missiles since the invasion began in February 2022. As one of the largest cities still under Ukrainian control in the besieged eastern region, Kramatorsk is home to approximately 150,000 people and is located approximately 30km (18 miles) from the frontlines.
In April of the previous year, over 60 individuals lost their lives in Kramatorsk after a missile struck the city’s railway station. Additionally, exactly one year ago on this same day, a shopping center in the city of Kremenchuk was targeted by Russian shelling, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people. This recent attack coincides with President Zelensky’s announcement that Ukraine’s counter-offensive is making progress on all fronts.
