A Russian missile strike on a theatre in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, has resulted in the tragic deaths of seven individuals, including a six-year-old child. The attack also left 144 people wounded, fifteen of whom are children, with at least 25 people receiving medical treatment in hospitals. The missile strike caused substantial damage to a main square and a university building in the city. Among the victims were individuals who had been attending an Orthodox Christian holiday celebration at a church.
Chernihiv, located about 50km from the Belarus border, was under Russian siege at the onset of the invasion. The city’s prominent theatre was directly hit by the missile, causing tiles to be blown off neighboring structures and starting a fire approximately 100 meters away. The theatre was hosting a gathering of drone manufacturers at the time of the attack.
The acting mayor of Chernihiv, Oleksandr Lomako, expressed that the intention behind the attack seemed to be directed at a military event taking place in the theatre building. However, he emphasized that the Russian forces launching the missile during daylight hours in a civilian city were aware that civilians would likely be the primary victims. This incident is seen as another example of Russia committing a war crime against civilians.
The city center of Chernihiv is a popular location for people to walk around, particularly on weekends. Anna Zahreba, manager of a local restaurant, described the chaotic scene after the missile struck, with injured individuals in need of medical assistance. She shared how her staff applied tourniquets and provided aid until ambulances arrived.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russia for transforming an ordinary Saturday into a day of tragedy and loss. The United Nations strongly condemned the attack, terming it “heinous” and a violation of international humanitarian law. The UN emphasized the prohibition of attacks against civilians or civilian structures.
As a result of this devastating incident, three days of mourning have been declared in Chernihiv. Moscow has not yet provided an official response to the event. In a separate development, Russia claimed that a Ukrainian drone struck a military airfield in the Novgorod region, causing minimal damage. Meanwhile, Kyiv’s air force reported that Ukrainian military forces successfully downed 15 out of 17 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Moscow in an overnight strike.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Evening Standard
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