Russia is alleged to have claimed the lives of 11 people in a missile strike against a residential building and a warehouse in the hometown of Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on Tuesday. Concurrently, the Ukrainian forces are said to be gaining ground in their recent counteroffensive.
The grim aftermath of the missile attack was evident in Kryvyi Rih as residents mourned outside the charred remnants of the apartment building. Smoke continued to linger after the dawn raid, located just a short drive from a massive reservoir that was drained due to a dam destruction last week, resulting in widespread flooding in the south of Ukraine.
Local authorities reported that the missile strike killed four individuals in the residential block and a further seven in a warehouse, with 28 people injured. The surrounding area was littered with shattered glass and debris, and at least five cars were left in ruins.
Survivor Olha Chernousova narrated her experience of the two explosions, which forcefully ejected her from her bed. "I thought I would have to jump into a tree," she revealed while waiting on her balcony for rescue teams.
President Zelenskiy, a native of the city, shared on Telegram, "Russian killers continue their war against residential buildings, ordinary cities and people." Moscow, on the other hand, denies deliberate attacks on civilians, despite consistent strikes on residential areas with long-range missiles, often at strategic points during the conflict.
Following seven months of intense Russian offensive yielding minimal progress despite the most ferocious ground combat in Europe since World War II, Ukraine launched its counteroffensive last week.
The initial stage of the counteroffensive has seen Ukraine capture more territory than ever since November, according to verified video footage from several villages. However, it has not yet broken through Russia's primary defensive lines, which have had ample time for fortification.
On the other side, Russia alleges that Ukraine has been engaged in cross-border shelling as part of its counteroffensive operations. The governor of Kursk in Russia reported on Tuesday that several homes were damaged and power supply disrupted in two border region villages.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military command confirmed that their air defense forces destroyed all Russian missiles aimed at the capital early on Tuesday. They claimed to have taken down 10 of the 14 cruise missiles launched by Russia and one out of four Iranian-made drones.
On Monday, Ukraine revealed that it had retaken seven settlements, with troops moving up to 6.5 km (4 miles) and securing 90 square km (35 square miles) along a 100 km stretch of the southern frontline, according to Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar. Russia, however, has not acknowledged these advances.
