In a harrowing turn of events, Ukrainian officials reported on Thursday that a Russian missile strike had devastated a grocery store and cafe in the eastern region of Kharkiv, leaving a trail of destruction and loss of life in its wake. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the incident as a deliberate act of terrorism, stating that the “brutal Russian crime” had targeted an ordinary grocery store with a rocket. The strike occurred in the Kupiansk district, an area already ravaged by conflict, where Russian forces have been aggressively pursuing the recapture of territory lost to Ukrainian troops the previous year.
The Ukrainian prosecutor general confirmed that at least 49 people had tragically lost their lives in this devastating attack. President Zelensky took to social media to share a heart-wrenching image of a woman kneeling beside the lifeless body of a victim, amidst the grim backdrop of other casualties strewn about. Rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the scene, grappling with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence that has left the nation in mourning.
The strike, which occurred at approximately 1:15 pm local time in the village of Groza, had a profound impact on the community. Groza, situated just 30 kilometers (around 20 miles) west of Kupiansk, a town on the frontlines of the conflict, was home to an estimated 500 people before the war erupted. Among the victims was a 6-year-old boy, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the attack. Additionally, one child was reported injured in the strike, further emphasizing the devastating toll on innocent lives. The international community watches with grave concern as Ukraine grapples with yet another tragedy in the midst of an ongoing conflict that continues to claim lives and destabilize the region.
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