13 Dead, Over 60 Injured in Russia's Terrorist Rocket Attack on Chernihiv
On Wednesday, April 17th, around 9:00 local time, Russian occupying forces launched a missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv. As a result of three missile hits in the central part of the city, at least 13 people have been reported dead, as confirmed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
"13 dead and over 60 injured in Chernihiv. Among the victims are two children. Necessary assistance is being provided to the injured. Police are conducting door-to-door checks in damaged buildings and aiding the wounded. Psychologists continue their work. Employees of law enforcement agencies and units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Chernihiv region have organized blood donation for the needs of the injured," said Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Klymenko.
The Chernihiv Regional Military Administration reported that the occupiers targeted civilian and social infrastructure objects in Chernihiv, nearly in the city centre.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the Russian occupiers' attack on the city. He stated that this wouldn't have happened if Ukraine had received sufficient air defence means.
"Unfortunately, the death toll may rise. And this wouldn't have happened if Ukraine had received sufficient air defence means and if the world's determination to counter Russian terror had also been sufficient. Terrorists can only break lives when they first manage to intimidate those who are capable of stopping terror and protecting lives. Determination matters. Support matters. Ukrainian determination is sufficient. What is needed is sufficient determination from partners and sufficient support that reflects it," said Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in light of Russia's latest terrorist attack, urged partners to provide Ukraine with means so that it could defend itself from air attacks with the same effectiveness as seen in Israel.
"These innocent people wouldn't have died or been injured if Ukraine had had sufficient air defence capabilities. Three days ago in the Middle East, we saw what reliable protection of human lives from missiles looks like. Ukraine's partners have the necessary means to help us save Ukrainian lives with the same level of effectiveness," wrote Dmytro Kuleba.
The head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also thanked Germany for already making an important decision to provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot battery and called on other countries to follow its example.