Russian missile attack kills six in Ukrainian president’s hometown

KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine, June 13 (Reuters) – At least six people were killed in a Russian attack missile attack at an apartment building in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, authorities said.

Residents sobbed outside the burned-out apartment block, which billowed smoke after the morning attack in the central Ukrainian city. Authorities said at least 25 people were injured and others may still be trapped under the rubble.

Olha Chernousova, who lives in the five-story apartment block, said she was woken by an explosion that sounded like thunder and a violent shock wave threw her out of bed.

“I ran to the door of my house, but it was very hot in there … the smoke was thick,” he said.

“What could I do? I was sitting on the balcony, terrified of losing consciousness. No one came for a long time… I thought I would have to jump up a tree.”

Around him, the street and the patio were strewn with glass and bricks. At least five cars were left in ruins.

Ihor Lavrenenko, who lives in another part of the building, said he heard two explosions.

“I woke up from the first hit, a weak one, and immediately went to the balcony. Then the second one went off overhead, I saw hot debris coming down from my balcony,” he said.

Rescue operations were underway at the apartment building and a destroyed warehouse, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on the Telegram messaging app.

The city’s mayor, Oleksandr Vilkul, confirmed that at least six people had been killed. In a previous post, he had said three people were killed, at least seven were believed to be trapped under rubble and 25 others were injured.

ZELENSKIY CONDEMNS THE ATTACK

“Russian killers continue their war against residential buildings, ordinary cities and people,” Zelenskiy, who was born in Kryvyi Rih, said on Telegram.

Russia did not immediately comment on the attack. It has repeatedly attacked cities in Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in February 2022, though it denies targeting civilians.

Moscow also accused Ukraine of cross-border shelling while kyiv carried out counter-offensive operations. The governor of Kursk in Russia said on Tuesday that several houses were damaged and power was interrupted in two villages in the region near the border.

During the early hours of Tuesday, air-raid sirens blared across Ukraine, with Kiev military officials saying air defense forces destroyed all Russian missiles targeting the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine’s military high command said the air force destroyed 10 of the 14 cruise missiles Russia launched at Ukraine and one of four Iranian-made drones.

Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade; Edited by Simon Cameron-Moore and Timothy Heritage

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