Title: Ukrainian Officials Accuse Kremlin Forces of Targeting Rescue Workers in Pokrovsk Attack
Date: [Current Date]
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian officials have accused the Kremlin’s forces of deliberately targeting rescue workers by launching missiles at residential buildings in the city of Pokrovsk. The attacks, which occurred on Monday evening, resulted in the deaths of nine people and left more than 80 others injured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed these casualties in his nightly address.
The missiles, identified as Iskander missiles, hit the downtown district of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine. According to Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, the missiles struck within a 40-minute interval. This incident follows a well-known military tactic called the “double tap,” where an initial strike is followed by another attack on emergency teams responding to the first blast. Russia has employed this strategy in the ongoing war and also used it during the Syrian civil war.
The targeted individuals included emergency workers, police officers, and soldiers who had rushed to assist residents after the initial missile strike. Ivan Vyhivskyi, Chief of Ukraine’s National Police, expressed outrage at the deliberate targeting of these dedicated individuals who were aiding those in need. He stated that the rescuers were aware that injured individuals were trapped under the rubble and went to great lengths to save lives.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that they had targeted a Ukrainian army command post in Pokrovsk. However, neither side’s claims could be independently verified.
A video sent by Volodymyr Nikulin, a police officer originally from Mariupol, captured the scenes of devastation. Nikulin, who was injured by shrapnel during the second missile strike, expressed his disapproval of the Russian forces’ actions. He noted that numerous wounded security forces were also present at the hospital, highlighting their heroic efforts to aid the injured.
The attack on Pokrovsk has drawn international condemnation. Denise Brown, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, described the incident as “absolutely ruthless” and a serious violation of international law. Ukrainian officials emphasized that rescuers are protected by international conventions as they are solely engaged in providing humanitarian assistance, rather than participating in combat operations.
The aftermath of the attack revealed extensive damage to several buildings, including multistory buildings, a hotel, a pharmacy, two stores, and two cafes. The wreckage filled the sidewalks while a children’s playground across the road was left in ruin. Russian missiles, drones, and artillery have frequently targeted civilian areas during the war, with the Kremlin claiming that they only aim for military assets.
In addition to the Pokrovsk attack, there were two other incidents reported on Tuesday. An overnight attack in the town of Kruhliakivka in the northeastern Kharkiv region resulted in three deaths and nine injuries. Two civilians were killed in a Russian bombing of a village near Kupiansk, and subsequent gunfire wounded two rescuers.
The Russian-installed authorities of the Donetsk region alleged that Kyiv’s forces had shelled the namesake capital, killing three people and injuring eleven others. The leader of the Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, further claimed that the Russian-held city of Donetsk itself had been targeted by Ukrainian shelling.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on both military personnel and civilians, with Ukrainian officials demanding an end to the violence and adherence to international law.
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