A baby was amongst a minimum of 16 individuals killed when a Russian missile crashed right into a market within the coronary heart of a Ukrainian metropolis, officers within the nation mentioned Wednesday.
The assault on the commercial japanese metropolis of Kostiantynivka, the deadliest in months, got here hours after Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived within the capital, Kyiv, in a present of U.S. assist.
Calling it a “horrible terrorist act by Russia,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned in a Telegram put up that “16 individuals are already identified to have died, together with 1 baby,” in Kostiantynivka, within the japanese Donetsk area. “My honest condolences to the households and family members,” he added.
Twenty eight individuals have been injured within the strike, Inside Minister Ihor Klymenko mentioned in a separate put up on his Telegram channel, including {that a} rescuer was among the many victims.
He additionally posted photos and movies from the scene displaying destroyed buildings and firefighters battling blazes. A number of confirmed what gave the impression to be armed forces carrying a physique from the wreckage. Shymal additionally posted video of a burning constructing.
NBC Information couldn’t independently confirm the footage.
The assault got here as Blinken was on a visit to the nation in a gesture of assist as its three-month-old counteroffensive towards Russian forces grinds on.
Blinken, the primary high U.S. official to go to Kyiv because the counteroffensive started in early June met with Ukraine’s International Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“We wish to be sure that Ukraine has what it wants, not solely to reach the counteroffensive, however has what it wants for the long run, to be sure that it has a robust deterrent,” Blinken advised a information convention forward of the assembly.
Kuleba mentioned in an earlier Telegram put up, alongside an image of the pair, that that they had paid their respects to “fallen heroes” at Kyiv’s Berkovetske cemetery.
This can be a breaking information story. Please verify again for updates.
