In a shocking turn of events, a Russian strike claimed the lives of at least 51 people who had gathered for a wake in an eastern Ukrainian village. This appalling attack has ignited a wave of condemnation from leaders in the Western world, with a UN official deeming it a “horrifying” act.
Eyewitnesses on the scene reported a scene of devastation, with rescuers recovering bodies from the wreckage, some severely charred and others placed in white body bags. The mourners were in a cafe, and there were additional victims in a shop within the same building. The village, with a population of 330, is located in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.
Heart-wrenching accounts from survivors painted a grim picture. Volodymyr Mukhovaty, 70, spoke of the unimaginable loss of his son, wife, and daughter-in-law. Amidst the rubble, he clung to a glimmer of hope, watching the rescue efforts from a distance.
Tragically, a six-year-old child was among the victims, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko stated that a total of 60 people had gathered for the memorial service.
The village, Groza, is situated over 30 kilometers from the frontline town of Kupiansk, an area where Russian forces have been aggressively pushing to regain territory they lost to Ukrainian troops the previous year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was attending a European summit in Spain, decried the attack, emphasizing that the Russian military must have been aware of their target. He denounced it as a deliberate strike against civilians, branding it a war crime.
International leaders joined in the condemnation, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announcing Germany’s commitment to supplying Kyiv with a new Patriot air-defense system. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the strike, underscoring the depths of brutality exhibited by Russian forces.
This devastating attack serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict. It stands as a stark testament to the brutality inflicted upon innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of this devastating war.
