Scores of civilians are feared dead or seriously injured after a Russian rocket strike hit a crowded shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, officials have said. 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.
Minutes later, Kyryl Tymoshenko, deputy head of the presidential office, said that at least two were dead and about 20 were hurt, with nine in serious condition. Mr Zelenskyy said the target presented “no threat to the Russian army” and had “no strategic value”.
Harrowing pictures shared on social media show huge flames billowing from the building, as teams launched a massive rescue operation. Zelenskyy accused Russia of sabotaging “people’s attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry”.
