Russian attack kills 25 civilians on Ukraine’s Independence Day, Kyiv says – Reuters

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday its forces had struck a railway station in eastern Ukraine, confirming an attack that also killed 25 civilians. The Russian ministry said some 200 Ukrainian military personnel had died in the attack.

The Chaplyne attack and artillery shelling of frontline towns followed President Zelenskiy’s warnings of Russian provocations ahead of Wednesday’s 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence from Moscow-dominated Soviet rule.

The United Nations has called for the area to be demilitarized and the International Atomic Energy Agency is seeking access to the plant.

Local residents grieved for their loved ones amid the rubble of their wrecked homes as rescue operations wrapped up in Chaplyne. Search and rescue crews were still sifting through the rubble at the train station late Wednesday, and the death toll could rise. The president remained defiant, pledging that Ukrainians “will make our way to victory”.

Russia denies targeting civilians, but says rail infrastructure is a legitimate target since it supplies Ukraine with Western weapons.

It has been approximately six months since Russia invaded the country, and Russian forces have killed more than 5,500 civilians.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2.04 million from 1.9 million. This move might support Western estimates of heavy Russian losses during the war.

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