- The number of people killed in a Russian missile attack on a pizza restaurant has risen from nine to 10.
- Data indicates the explosion was caused by a Russian short-range ballistic missile system. Earlier reports stated the missile was a S-300 – a long-range surface-to-air missile system.
- “Russia doesn’t hit civilians, only military targets,” a Kremlin spokesman told News agency in response to the latest atrocity being attributed to a Russian missile.
- It is a lie that has been repeated throughout this war.
- Hitting civilian targets is a modus operandi for the Russian military and has been in all the recent conflicts it has fought, from Chechnya to Syria to Ukraine.
The number of people killed in a Russian missile attack on a pizza restaurant has risen from nine to 10, the mayor’s office has confirmed. “Ten killed and 61 wounded as a result of the Russian attack on Kramatorsk. Police officers continue to work at the scene of the shooting,” a statement said.
The post also says that “confirmed data” indicates the explosion was caused by an Iskander, a Russian short-range ballistic missile system. Earlier reports from Ukrainian officials stated the missile was a S-300 – a long-range surface-to-air missile system. The mayor’s office also said that a criminal investigation was underway following the attack.
An eight-month-old baby is also reported to have been injured in the attack. Earlier, a Russian MP said his country only attacks “military targets” a claim that has just been repeated by the Kremlin’s spokesperson. “Russia doesn’t hit civilians, only military targets,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told News agency in response to the latest atrocity being attributed to a Russian missile. It is a lie that has been repeated throughout this war.
Hitting civilian targets is a modus operandi for the Russian military and has been in all the recent conflicts it has fought, from Chechnya to Syria to Ukraine. Russian state TV this morning explained the missile attack that Ukrainians say left a pizza restaurant, a kindergarten, and 65 other buildings damaged thus: “The missiles were aimed at NATO instructors and the strike’s objective was achieved.”
It presented no evidence to justify that claim. It is a year to the day that other Russian missiles slammed into a shopping center in the town of Kremenchuk, killing 22 people.
Was this some kind of twisted effort to mark that anniversary or perhaps an effort to change the subject after an extremely embarrassing few days that has seen Russians fighting Russians on Russian soil? What can be said for sure is that Russia has had no qualms about sending missiles into civilian areas in Ukraine during this conflict and will no doubt continue doing so.
(With inputs from agencies)
