War in Ukraine: Ukrainian President Zelensky described the Russian attack as “absolutely evil”.
Kyiv:
At least eight people, including a child, were injured when a powerful Russian missile strike destroyed a newly repaired cultural center in eastern Ukraine, authorities said Friday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that Russia had targeted “the newly renovated House of Culture”, in the city of Lozova, in the eastern region of Kharkov. He described the attack as “absolute evil” and “absolute stupidity”.
Kharkiv regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said eight people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl. All had been hit by shrapnel. A local health official had previously estimated the number of injured at seven.
A fire broke out in the cultural center after the rocket attack that also damaged nearby buildings, Sinegubov said, adding that Russian forces had fired three rockets at the 1,000-capacity building, the largest cultural center in the region.
“There is no doubt that the occupiers attacked it directly,” he said on Telegram.
Two of the missiles had been intercepted and the fires had been extinguished, he added.
“The occupiers have identified culture, education and humanity as their enemies. And they are not sparing no missiles or bombs,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
He added a video to his post showing a large explosion near the building, sending debris flying in all directions, followed by thick black clouds of smoke. Residential complexes were seen nearby and two passing cars, one of which accelerated to flee the area.
Defense Minister Oleg Motuzianyk said the situation on the eastern front was tense on Friday and appeared to be deteriorating.
He told a news conference that Russian troops fired all along the line of contact and tried to fire deep into the Ukrainian defenses.
Russia has been routinely accused of attacking civilian infrastructure since its February 24 invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has devastated several towns and cities.
Mariupol in the south is almost completely destroyed. Moscow troops were accused of attacking a theater in the southern port city in March, killing hundreds of civilians hiding there.
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