Zelensky plea for air defence equipment from allies as Russian missiles hit Ukrainian city killing at least 13

More than 60 people have also been injured in the strike on Chernihiv in northern Ukraine
Rescuers work at the site of a destroyed building during a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv
REUTERS
Jacob Phillips17 April 2024

A Russian missile attack has killed at least 13 people and damaged buildings and infrastructure in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, officials have said.

At least 61 people were also injured in the strikes, including two children, when three missiles hit the city just after 9am local time (6am GMT) on Wednesday, Ukrainian emergency services said.

The city's acting mayor, Oleksandr Lomako, said three explosions ripped through a busy part of the city, hitting a multi-story building.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 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," Zelensky said via the Telegram messaging app.

A dog stands on rubble as rescuers work at the site of a destroyed building during the Russian missile strike
REUTERS

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.

"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, which 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.

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