On Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities apprehended an individual whom they allege helped Russia coordinate a missile attack on a popular pizza restaurant in eastern Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 people, including three teenagers. The strike, which occurred on Tuesday evening in Kramatorsk, also left 61 others wounded. This incident is part of a series of bombardments targeting Ukrainian cities, a tactic frequently employed by Russia throughout the 16-month-long conflict.
Despite the political and military upheaval in Russia following a brief armed uprising, the Kremlin has not relented in its aerial assault on Ukraine. Recent strikes indicate that Russia continues its aggressive stance, undeterred by internal turmoil. While Ukraine has not made any notable military advancements during this period, the government has remained discreet about the latest developments on the battlefield as it seeks to gain momentum in its recently initiated counteroffensive.
The Kremlin is still grappling with the repercussions of the weekend mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner private army comprising prison recruits and mercenaries who have played a significant combat role in Ukraine on behalf of Russia. This rebellion posed the most significant challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power thus far. Prigozhin reportedly fled to neighboring Belarus on Tuesday, according to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, after Russia declared that he would not face charges for his involvement in the revolt. However, Prigozhin’s whereabouts have not been independently verified.
The victims of the Kramatorsk attack included two 14-year-old sisters and a 17-year-old. Numerous buildings, including multistory structures, houses, schools, kindergartens, and other facilities, suffered damage in the assault. Rescue teams are still searching for additional survivors and victims in the debris.
Initially, authorities attributed the strike to an S-300 missile, a surface-to-air weapon that Russian forces have repurposed for indiscriminate attacks on cities. However, the National Police later disclosed that Iskander short-range ballistic missiles were employed. Kramatorsk, a front-line city hosting the Ukrainian army’s regional headquarters, was a popular venue frequented by journalists, aid workers, soldiers, and local residents.
The Ukrainian Security Service detained an employee of a gas transportation company, suspecting him of providing the Russians with information about the restaurant’s popularity and filming the premises. The Security Service did not present any evidence to support this claim. Throughout the war, Russia has maintained that it does not target civilians, although its airstrikes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated this assertion on Wednesday.
Kramatorsk is located in Donetsk, one of the Ukrainian provinces annexed by Russia in September of the previous year but not under full control. Crimea has also been occupied by Russia since 2015. The Ukrainian-held territories in the partially occupied provinces have been severely affected by Russian bombardment and remain a focal point of contention in the conflict. The Kremlin demands that Kyiv recognize the annexations, while Kyiv has refused to engage in any negotiations until Russian troops withdraw from all occupied territories.
As fighting persists along the front line, Russia has escalated its air campaign in Ukraine. On Tuesday and overnight, Russian forces reportedly shelled 16 settlements in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. The Ukrainian presidential office reported that a 77-year-old civilian was killed in the front-line town of Orikhiv, and three individuals in a nearby village, recently retaken by Kyiv, were wounded due to Russian shelling. Additionally, a Russian supersonic cruise missile struck a group of holiday homes in central Ukraine, causing a fire that injured a child.
Source: With Agencies