At least 12 dead in Russian attack on supermarket
Russia is waging a barbaric war of aggression against Ukraine. Particularly heinous are attacks on civilian targets. Now, once again, a Russian missile hits a Ukrainian supermarket. There are at least 12 fatalities, and another 36 people are injured.
In a Russian attack on a supermarket in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, at least 12 people were killed and 44 injured, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack in the city, located about 13 kilometers from the front, also damaged nearby residential buildings.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had reported 4 deaths and 24 injuries on his social media channels. "People are trapped under the rubble. A rescue operation is underway, and everything is being done to save them," he wrote. "The attack on the supermarket in Kostiantynivka is another act of Russian terror. War against civilians is all they know," explained Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian president.
Dozens of people fled the supermarket grounds. Local police warned of a possible second attack. Black smoke billowed from the supermarket, and police cordoned off nearby streets. Given the images, it can be assumed that the death toll will continue to rise. Drones and intensified artillery fire were also heard in the area.
Kostiantynivka, with a pre-war population of around 67,000, is located near the front in the industrial Donetsk region. The Russian army shells the city almost daily. Just on Wednesday, two civilians were killed in the city, according to Governor Vadym Fillaschkin.
Russia has been terrorizing the Ukrainian civilian population for a long time with attacks on energy or heating infrastructure, as well as attacks on residential buildings, train stations, and indeed supermarkets. In the latter cases, the death toll is particularly high.
The European Union strongly condemns the Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, including supermarkets, in Ukraine. These escalations demonstrate Russia's disregard for international law and humanitarian principles.
In response to these attacks, the European Union is considering additional sanctions against Russia to further isolate and pressure them to cease their aggression against Ukraine.
