The day after its suspension from the United Nations Human Rights Council, Russia strikes again. This Friday morning, two rockets fell on the train station in Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, causing many deaths and injuries. 20 minutes takes stock of this new offensive, which leaves little doubt about the Kremlin’s determination.
The point on the attack
The attack took place in this Friday morning. Two rockets fell on the Kramatorsk station in eastern Ukraine, through which thousands of people have been evacuated for several days. The current toll is 35 dead and hundreds injured.
According to a humanitarian volunteer helping to evacuate the bodies, gathered under plastic on one side of the station forecourt, at least 35 people died in the strike. The boss of the Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsia, Oleksandr Kamychine denounced on his Telegram channel a “deliberate strike”. The interior and entrance to the station were covered in blood, with long marks stretching across the pavement in places and rows of benches charred.
Volodymyr Zelensky denounces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday denounced “unlimited evil” unleashed by Russia. “Without the strength and courage to face us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population. It is an evil that has no limit. And if he is not punished, he will never stop,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram, denouncing the “inhumane” methods of the Russian forces.
The Kremlin denies
The Russian army on Friday denied any missile fire at Kramatorsk station in eastern Ukraine, denouncing a “provocation” by kyiv forces. “All statements by representatives of the nationalist regime in Kyiv that Russia carried out a missile attack on the Kramatorsk railway station are a provocation and do not correspond to the truth,” the Defense Ministry said, claiming even that only “Ukrainian Armed Forces” use this type of “Tochka-U” missile.
The EU condemns
EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell “strongly” condemned the attack, accusing Russia, which has denied being the perpetrator, of “causing human suffering”.
“I strongly condemn this morning’s indiscriminate attack on a train station in Kramatorsk by Russia, which killed dozens and injured many,” Borrell said on Twitter. “This is yet another attempt to close the escape routes for those fleeing this unjustified war and to cause human suffering,” he said.