Kyiv, Apr 18
A devastating missile attack rocked the bustling downtown area of Chernihiv in Ukraine on Wednesday, claiming the lives of at least 17 individuals and leaving numerous others wounded. Ukrainian officials, as reported by The New York Times, confirmed the grim toll, cautioning that the number of casualties might rise in the aftermath of the assault. President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the nation amidst the tragedy, lamented the absence of robust air defence systems in Ukraine, attributing the loss of lives to this critical deficiency. He underscored the urgent need for enhanced international support to counter the escalating threat posed by Russian aggression.
In a statement, Zelenskyy said, “This would not have happened if Ukraine had received enough air defence equipment and if the world’s determination to counter Russian terror was also sufficient,” according to The New York Times report. He said, “Terrorists can destroy lives only when they first manage to intimidate those who are able to stop terror and protect life.” The district where the missiles hit is a crowded part of the city near a university and hospital.The targeted district, situated close to a university and hospital, bore the brunt of the missile strikes, plunging the community into chaos and despair.
Describing the harrowing scenes, Chernihiv city government official Oleksandr Lomako recounted witnessing lifeless bodies strewn across the streets and vehicles stained with blood, reflecting the indiscriminate nature of the attack.
Rescue efforts were swiftly mobilized to scour the debris for any remaining survivors, underscoring the urgent requirement for bolstered air defence capabilities and munitions to safeguard civilian lives against future onslaughts.Chernihiv, situated on the border with Russia, has frequently been subjected to aerial bombardments, highlighting the persistent threat posed by neighbouring aggressors. Despite previous successes in repelling Russian forces and fortifying air defences, recent events underscore the precariousness of the security situation in the region.
Amidst the chaos, the broader conflict between Russia and Ukraine rages on, with skirmishes erupting across the frontlines. Russian forces, intent on gaining strategic footholds, continue their advance, posing a grave threat to key urban centres still under Ukrainian control.The suspension of US military assistance has exacerbated Ukraine’s vulnerability, leaving critical air defence systems depleted of ammunition. Faced with dwindling resources, Ukrainian forces are compelled to confront the relentless onslaught with dwindling supplies and mounting casualties.President Zelensky, in a candid interview with PBS, lamented the consequences of delayed international support, warning of the dire implications for Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian aggression. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, as the nation grapples with the existential threat posed by a resurgent adversary bent on territorial expansion.
Kyiv, April 18: A Russian missile attack killed at least 13 residents and damaged buildings and municipal infrastructure in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv on Wednesday, local officials said.
As Russia continues to pound Ukrainian cities starved for air defence, the country’s top officials intensified pleas for international support, saying the devastation could have been avoided.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for determination and support from allies hours after the attack.
“This would not have happened if Ukraine had received sufficient air defence equipment and if the world’s determination to counter Russian terror had been sufficient,” Zelenskiy said via the Telegram messaging app.
Ukraine is facing a shortage of ammunition, with vital funding from the US blocked by Republicans in Congress for months and the EU failing to deliver munitions on time.
Chernihiv’s acting mayor, Oleksandr Lomako, said three explosions ripped through a busy part of the city just after 9 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), destroying a multi-story building.
“Unfortunately, Russia continues to engage in terrorist activity against the civilians and civilian infrastructure as confirmed by this strike on Chernihiv once again,” Lomako told Ukrainian TV.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the attack killed at least 13 people and injured more than 60, in a statement on Telegram, as rescue operations continue.
The strike also damaged four multi-story buildings, a hospital, an education facility and dozens of private cars, he added in a statement on Telegram.Russia carried out the attack with three Iskander cruise missiles, according to a comment from regional governor Vyacheslav Chaus to the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne.
Injured civilians had been taken to hospitals around the city and the head of the regional hospital urged residents to donate blood on TV.
Unverified social media videos showed flames and columns of black smoke rising over the historic city, that lies about 150 km (95 miles) from the capital Kyiv. People ran from a bus to take cover. Emergency services and medics rushed to the site of the strike, officials said.
Russia, which denies targeting civilians, invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and has launched thousands of missiles and drones on Ukrainian cities and villages in attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians.
In recent weeks Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities, targeting the country’s power sector and other critical infrastructure.Andriy Yermak, head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office, on Wednesday reiterated Kyiv’s plea for more air defence. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Germany for providing an additional Patriot battery, urging other partners to follow suit.
