A Ukrainian city has been hit with one of the deadliest missile attacks since the war started on Thursday and at least 51 civilians have been killed including a six year old boy.
A café and a shop was hit during a Russian missile air strike and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky branded the attack as a “brutal Russian crime.”
The Governor of the Kharkiv region Oleh Synehubov wrote on Telegram, “The rescuers continue to work on the site.”
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The United Nations condemned the attack in Kharkiv and Denise Brown, humanitarian coordinator said the images are “absolutely horrifying.”
Russians just now deliberately hit a cafe and killed 48 civilians, wounding other 6 people in the village of Groza, Kupyansky District, Kharkiv Oblast.
There is a 6-year-old boy amongst those killed. The number of victims is still counting. pic.twitter.com/46npl10mCm
— Ihor Lachenkov (@igorlachenkov) October 5, 2023
Brown said she is “appalled” by the Russian strike and said in a statement, “On behalf of the United Nations and the humanitarian community, I sent my most heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.”
Brown added that Russian forces intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime.
51 civilians! The death toll from the russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast has risen to 51, including a 6-year-old boy. pic.twitter.com/w5h22rCaTy
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) October 5, 2023
At the time of the missile attack there was a memorial service taking place at the café, state broadcaster Suspilne cited Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said around 60 residents were in the immediate blast areas.
He said, “One person from each family, from each yard, was present at the memorial dinner.”
❗️russians hit cafe-shop in Kharkiv region killing 49 people. Pure evil that destroys everyone and everything on its way.
Video: Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/eNoWPcKaT9
— Kira Rudik (@kiraincongress) October 5, 2023
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said that at the site of the attack in Kharkiv there was no military targets and that Russia deliberately targeted the area “to ensure a maximum number of casualties.”
The Ministry added, “There were no military targets there. This is a heinous crime intended to scare Ukrainians.”
