A devastating air strike, allegedly by Russia, in the central Ukrainian city Dnipro, resulted in the death of a toddler and caused injury to 22 others. The local authorities reported that the two-year-old girl’s body was recovered from the remains of a house in the Pidhorodnenska neighborhood. According to Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor, among the injured were five children, three boys of whom are critically hospitalized.
Previously, the Ukrainian president released a video showing the rescue teams combing through the debris of a collapsed two-story building. Although President Volodymyr Zelensky attributed this attack to Russia, there has been no response from the Russian side.
There were also reports of explosions being heard in Kyiv, the nation’s capital, triggering the activation of air defense systems. Ukraine was under an air raid warning earlier. Zelensky stated that the Dnipro explosion was a planned assault by Russia, even though Russia has consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians during its invasion.
The alleged air strike led to fires in the city’s northern area, as reported by the regional governor. Seventeen of the injured people were immediately hospitalized. Furthermore, there were reports of explosions from different parts of Ukraine, and air defense systems were operational early Sunday in Kyiv to repel air attacks, as per the head of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhiy Popko. Popko confirmed that all incoming missiles were intercepted and neutralized.
The officials in Sumy, a northern city, registered 87 blasts due to Russian bombardment, causing harm and infrastructure damage. There were reports of multiple explosions in Russian-controlled southern cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol, and in the central city of Kropyvnitsky, but specific details are yet to be confirmed.
In a related development in Russia, it was reported that Ukraine’s attacks led to two deaths in the border region of Belgorod. Ukraine, however, countered by stating that the fatalities resulted from Russia’s attempt to strike anti-government fighters. The region has recently experienced several attacks, including a significant cross-border incursion last month that, according to Moscow, led to the death of 70 assailants. Kyiv denied any direct involvement, attributing the attack to Russian paramilitaries.
Lastly, Dr. Ihor Zhovkva, a key aide to President Zelensky, told the UK’s Sunday Times newspaper that Ukraine is not equipped to start its promised counter-offensive against Russian forces due to insufficient weaponry and ammunition. This statement seemed to contradict President Zelensky’s assertion made a day before that Ukraine was prepared to initiate the counter-action. The Sunday Times, however, suggested that these contradictory statements from Ukrainian officials might be a calculated move to bewilder Moscow.
