Three Russian missiles hit the center of the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, injuring dozens and damaging civilian buildings, officials said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kiev's allies to rush to support air defense after the city, which had a pre-war population of 300,000, became the latest target of an intensified Russian air attack campaign.
“This would not have happened if Ukraine had received sufficient air defense equipment and if the world's determination to combat Russian terror had been sufficient,” Zelensky wrote on the messaging app Telegram.
Videos obtained by Reuters showed flames and columns of black smoke rising over Chernihiv, which is about 150 km (95 miles) from the capital Kiev and about 80 km (50 miles) from the border with Russia.
Three explosions tore through a busy central area of the city just after 9 a.m. local time, destroying a hotel, authorities said.
The attack also damaged several multi-story residential buildings, a hospital, an education center and dozens of private cars, officials said.
“Unfortunately, Russia continues to engage in terrorist activities against civilians and civilian infrastructure, as confirmed by this attack on Chernihiv once again,” Acting Mayor Oleksandr Lomako said on national television.
Sixty people, including three children, were injured, according to emergency services.
Russia, which denies targeting civilians, attacked with three Iskander cruise missiles, governor Vyacheslav Chaus told public broadcaster Suspilne.
Shelter in basements
“I still haven't completely recovered my senses and I don't understand everything that happened. The main thing for me is that my son at school was in a basement (shelter),” local resident Iryna, 35, told Reuters.
“The school is close by and I was more worried about them having enough time to get down.”
Schools are equipped with shelters in basements for children and teachers to take shelter there.
As civilians shoveled glass and debris near homes, local doctors urged residents to donate blood and city authorities declared a day of mourning.
Ukraine is facing a severe shortage of ammunition, including air defense systems and missiles, with vital US funding blocked by Republicans in Congress for months and the EU failing to deliver munitions on time.
Russia has taken advantage of these delays in recent weeks, stepping up its attacks on Ukrainian cities and targeting the energy sector and other critical infrastructure.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed gratitude to Germany for providing an additional third Patriot air defense battery, urging the country's other allies to follow suit.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and launched thousands of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities, towns and villages in attacks that killed hundreds of civilians.
Source: CNN Brasil
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