A Russian missile strike hit a supermarket in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 people and injuring 43 others, according to Ukrainian officials.
Key Details
- Attack Description
- The missile strike targeted a supermarket and a post office in Kostiantynivka, located near the front line in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Images from the scene showed heavy black smoke rising from the destroyed building.
- Casualties and Damage
- At least 14 people were killed, and 43 others were injured. Emergency services have been working to clear the rubble and search for survivors. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that there were still people trapped under the debris.
- Regional Context
- Kostiantynivka is situated approximately 13 kilometers from the active combat line. The Donetsk region, controlled by the Ukrainian government, frequently experiences shelling and airstrikes from Russian forces.
- Official Responses
- Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin condemned the attack, stating that no military situation could justify targeting civilians. The interior minister confirmed the use of a Kh-38 air-to-surface missile, initially misreported as artillery.
- Impact on Local Services
- The strike also damaged the cargo office of Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest private postal company. Although no employees were killed, one worker sustained a concussion and is receiving medical care.
- Russian Reaction
- Moscow has not commented on the incident. Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians, despite numerous reports of civilian casualties during the ongoing invasion.
Background
- Ongoing Conflict
- The Donetsk region remains a focal point of conflict, with Russian forces targeting key areas, including the strategic eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk.
- Current Developments
- Russia has been engaged in what it describes as an armored cross-border assault by Ukrainian troops in its Kursk region. The Kyiv military has not yet commented on these claims.