Ukraine: 26 people, including 5 children, killed in Russian strikes
What's the story
At least 26 people, including five children, were killed in Ukraine on Friday after Russian forces resumed air strikes on its capital Kyiv and other cities, AFP reported.
The historic city of Uman in central Ukraine was the worst hit as Russian missiles reportedly struck residential areas, damaging buildings and burying people under the debris.
The attack comes as Kyiv's counteroffensive preparations reportedly concluded.
Details
Uman worst hit, 23 people killed
According to multiple reports, the fresh strikes by Russia attempted to bring Ukraine's energy grid to a halt.
After weeks of silence, Russia apparently launched a volley of around two dozen missiles, per Ukrainian officials.
Russian cruise missiles reportedly killed 23 people in Uman alone, they said.
Officials claimed that nearly 27 flats of a complex—housing 109 people—were entirely destroyed.
Claims
Casualties reported in Dnipro, Kherson
According to Ukrainian officials, Russian missiles also resulted in civilian casualties in the central city of Dnipro and the southern region of Kherson, Reuters reported.
On the other hand, Moscow claimed it had targeted Ukrainian reserve troop positions and successfully attacked them, preventing them from reaching the front. However, it provided no proof to back up this assertion.
Twitter Post
Watch: Video of destruction tweeted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Uman... The rubble is still being cleared. There are already 13 dead. Two of them are children that can’t be identified. The fate of their parents is unknown... The rescuers will work until they make sure that no one else is left under the rubble. We can defeat Russian terror… pic.twitter.com/j6jk8HZWkq
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 28, 2023
Counter
Ukraine's counteroffensive preparations nearly complete: Defense minister
As per reports, missiles also struck the capital city of Kyiv, although no one was killed.
Moreover, Ukraine claimed to have shot down 21 of 23 Russian missiles and two attack drones.
This comes after Western allies reportedly provided Ukraine with different armaments against Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said the country's counteroffensive preparations against Russia were nearly done.
Reaction
Zelenskyy vowed response against fresh Russian strikes
Soon after the Russian attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a statement condemning the action and vowed to respond to the same.
"Only absolute evil can unleash such terror against Ukraine," he said in his evening address.
"If you don't want THIS spread around the world, then give us weapons. Lots of weapons. And add sanctions," his advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak tweeted.
Twitter Post
Watch: Video of alleged counterattack on Russia-controlled Sevastopol Port
Putin, Lavrov, Medvedev, Solovyov and the Kremlin in Moscow, #Russia, should tell Russians to avoid Ukrainian Crimea. Russia has used Sevastopol port, the Black Sea fleet, and the Saky air base to launch missile strikes against #Ukraine's cities. Crimea is Ukraine🇺🇦#Sevastopol pic.twitter.com/llkEx3Jn6J
— Herry Napitupulu (@HerryNapit) April 29, 2023