Russian rocket strikes hit Ukraine's crowded shopping streets, fearing "unimaginable" victims

Many after the Russian rocket strikes were crowded According to Ukrainian officials who could kill or injure civilians, a shopping mallin the central city of Kremenchuk in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a telegram post that the number of victims was "unimaginable," citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Stated.

A few minutes later, Deputy Secretary of the Cheong Wa Dae, Kyryl Tymoshenko, said in a telegram post that at least two people were killed, about 20 were injured, and nine of them were in serious condition. rice field.

Zelenskyy said the target was "no threat to Russian troops", "no strategic value" I emphasized. He accused Russia of interfering with "an attempt by those who lead a normal life that makes the occupiers very angry."

"Russia continues to be powerless against the general public. It makes no sense to expect dignity and humanity on its side," Zelensky said. Said.

Earlier on Monday, Mayor Kremenchuk said people were killed in an attack on a "very crowded area" that was not of military importance, but did not provide details of the casualties.

"The rocket attack on Kremenchuk struck a very crowded area, but it is 100% certain that it has no connection to the army. There are casualties," said Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy. Is writing. Facebook, without giving the number of victims.

Ukrainian officials said an emergency team was on the scene.

Ukrainian provincial governor Dmitry Lunin confirmed that more than 1000 civilians were in the shopping center at the time of the attack. Lunin, who wrote in the telegram, said the building remained in flames.

According to the local governor, Russia launched a full-scale attack on the last Ukrainian fortress in eastern Luhansk, "burning" the city of Lysychansik from the ground and air. rice field. Western leaders have promised solid support for Kyiv.

According to the Secretary-General of the Military Alliance, Jens Stortemberg, NATO will also provide Ukraine with further military support, including secure communications and anti-drone systems, when Ukraine convenes for a summit. I agree to provide.

Governor Luhansk, Severodonetsk, said Russian troops have recently beaten Lysychans'k after occupying the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk. According to Western experts, the new main goal of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine is now in the fifth month, and robbing the Ukrainian government of control of the wider Donbas region is It is part of the strengthening of Russia's attacks.

"They are burning the city both from the air and on the ground. After the takeover of Sieviero Donetsk, enemy troops are fully committed to occupying the last base in the Luhansk region. I'm here. Lysychansik. "

The Russians are trying to blockade the city from the south, "destroying everything their cannons and multiple rocket launchers can reach," Haidai said. In recent weeks, Russian troops have been trying to occupy several villages and towns southeast of Lysychans'k and stop access to cities from the south.

Meanwhile, on the west, the mayor of Slovyansk, which could be the next major battlefield, said he had launched cluster munitions into the city after dawn, including those that hit residential areas. ..

Authorities say the number of dead and injured has not yet been confirmed. AP saw one dead. The man's body sat on the chambranle of the car, and his chest and head were scratched and blood spilled on the ground.

Ukrainian troops have spent weeks strengthening defenses around Slovyansk, fearing that Lysychans'k could become the next big Russian target if it collapses. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia "wants to capture and completely destroy Slovyansk."

The shock wave from the blast on Monday blew most of the windows in the surrounding apartment blocks, the car parked underneath, and the ground was messed up with broken glass.

"Now everything is destroyed. We are the only ones living in this part of the building. We have no power," said local resident Valentina Witkovska in tears. I talked about. "You can't even call us to tell others what happened."

Overall, Zelensky's office has been fierce Russia against various cities in Ukraine in the last 24 hours. At least six civilians were killed and 31 were injured as part of the bombardment. Count attacks on the Kremenchuk.

Russian troops launch rockets in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city and its suburbs, killing two, injuring five and targeting Odesa, the main port in the south. He said he continued. The missile attack destroyed residential buildings and injured six people, including children, he said.

In Lysychans'k, at least five skyscrapers and the last road bridge in the city were damaged in the past day, Governor Haidai said. An important highway connecting the city and the territory owned by the government further south was impassable due to bombardment.

Such artillery also makes it increasingly difficult for civilians to evacuate, Haidai said. The prewar population was about 100,000, about one-tenth of which remains.

According to analysts, Lysychans'k is high on the banks of the Donets River, and the large areas dotted with hills offer great benefits to Ukrainian defenders.

"It's very difficult to crack. Russians could spend months and a lot of effort to attack Lysychans'k," said military analyst Ole Zhdanov. rice field. The

Siverskiy Donets River surrounds Lysychans'k from the north and east, but Ukrainian troops continue to hold territory to the west of the city used to supply weapons and humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, senior Biden administration officials confirmed in CBS Newsthat the White House plans to announce advanced medium to long haul purchases this week. did. Ukraine's ground-to-air missile defense system. CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe said Washington is expected to promise more shells and radar systems as it seeks to respond to urgent requests from Ukrainian leaders. 

Mr. Biden and his fellow G7 leaders, who met in Germany on Monday, have a new appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was virtually supposed to address them from Kieu. Was likely to be heard. He came to his country on Sunday night with a daily video address, Ukraine military, financial and humanitarian assistance to counter Russia's aggression He said he needed it immediately.

As CBS News correspondent Ramy Inocencio reported from the Ukrainian capital, Russia has been in Kieu for several weeks as launch long-range missile volleys in the city. Shattered the relatively calm state of early Sunday morning. It was a clear manifestation of the Kremlin's power when Western leaders gathered in Germany to strengthen military and financial support for Ukraine.