At the least 21 individuals have died after a Russian missile strike hit a nine-story condominium constructing within the central Ukrainian metropolis of Dnipro on Saturday, one of many largest losses of civilian lives removed from the frontline because the starting of the conflict.
Rescue staff have been nonetheless digging by way of the rubble of the constructing on Sunday, based on movies posted by Ukrainian emergency providers on the scene of the strike.
The residential constructing was struck late on Saturday afternoon as Russia launched dozens of missiles at cities throughout Ukraine in two waves of strikes that coincided with the Orthodox New 12 months and shattered the relative calm of current days.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the workplace of the Ukrainian president, mentioned that no less than 21 individuals, together with one baby, had been killed within the assault and that emergency staff have been nonetheless looking by way of the rubble on Sunday morning.
At the least 73 individuals have been injured within the assault, and no less than 37 individuals have been nonetheless lacking. At the least 400 individuals lived within the massive condominium constructing and the speedy space round it, Mr. Tymoshenko mentioned, and 72 residences had been destroyed within the assault.
In a single picture from the scene of the assault, a younger lady was photographed clutching a stuffed animal and a golden Christmas garland as she stood within the ruins of the constructing ready to be rescued.
In a put up on a verified account on Instagram, the photo-sharing app, the girl, who gave her identify as Anastasiia Shvets, mentioned her mother and father have been nonetheless lacking. She described how she had escaped unhurt aside from a small head wound and bruises on her legs.
“I’ve no phrases, I’ve no feelings, I really feel nothing besides an incredible vacancy inside,” she wrote, sharing photos from her hospital mattress.
The missile that struck the constructing was a Kh-22 cruise missile, also referred to as an X-22 missile, based on Hanna Mailar, Ukraine’s deputy minister of protection. 5 of those missiles have been fired at Ukrainian territory on Saturday, with one hitting the constructing in Dnipro.
Instantly after the strike on the condominium constructing, pro-Russian information retailers and influential navy bloggers argued that the condominium buildings had been struck by fragments of the missile after Ukrainian air defenses tried to intercept it.
However Ukrainian forces have been fast to disclaim that, and the proof from the scene pointed to a direct strike on the constructing.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine don’t have any weapons able to taking pictures down any such missile,” Ms. Mailar mentioned, including that since Russia invaded in February, greater than 210 missiles of this kind have been utilized in assaults on Ukrainian territory.
The identical sort of missile was used on a purchasing heart in Kremenchuk in June, killing 18 individuals.
The Soviet-era missiles weigh about 2,000 kilos, will be fired from lengthy distances and are meant for anti-ship operations. They’re additionally able to carrying nuclear warheads.
Ms. Mailar, mentioned the assault confirmed the necessity for anti-aircraft missile methods just like the Patriot system — which Ukraine has lengthy been lobbying allies for.
Late final month, President Biden mentioned that america will provide Ukraine with the Patriot missile system and that Ukrainian forces will start coaching on the system in Oklahoma within the coming weeks.
Oleksandra Mykolyshyn contributed reporting.
