A Russian airstrike in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, left at least 17 dead, as disclosed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The attack, termed by Zelensky as “heinous,” unfolded hours after an unexpected visit to Kyiv by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who ardently pledged support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia.
The incident unfolded in Kostiantynivka, a town in the Donetsk region, home to nearly 70,000 people. It is one of the deadliest strikes in recent weeks, as projectiles tore through the town center.
Rescue workers sifted through the debris, to provide aid to the wounded. The grim scene was full of by charred vehicles and kiosks, their once-vibrant structures reduced to a harrowing state of disarray.
Interior Minister Igor Klymenko confirmed that 17 people were dead and 32 injured in the attack. The dead included a child too.
President Zelensky accused Russia of intentionally targeting civilians, asserting that no military units were present in the vicinity. He passionately decried the act as “heinous evil,” “brazen wickedness,” and “utter inhumanity.”