Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine: At least six individuals have been killed in a Russian missile strike on an house constructing in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday, officers stated.

Residents sobbed exterior the burnt-out house block, from which smoke billowed after the early-morning assault on the central Ukrainian metropolis. Officials stated at the very least 25 individuals have been wounded and others might nonetheless be trapped underneath the rubble.

Olha Chernousova, who lives within the five-storey house block, stated she was woken by an explosion which appeared like thunder and thrown out of her mattress by a violent blast wave.

“I ran to my front door, but it was very hot there… the smoke was heavy,” she stated.

“What could I do? I was sat on the balcony, terrified I would lose consciousness. Nobody came for a long time… I thought I would have to jump into a tree.”

Around her, the road and courtyard have been strewn with glass and bricks. At least 5 automobiles have been ruined husks.

Ihor Lavrenenko, who lives in a special a part of the constructing, stated he heard two blasts.

“I woke up from the first bang, a weak one, and went straightaway onto the balcony. Then the second one erupted overhead, I watched from my balcony as hot debris fell,” he stated.

Rescue operations have been underway within the house constructing and in a destroyed warehouse, regional governor Serhiy Lysak stated on the Telegram messaging app.

City mayor Oleksandr Vilkul confirmed at the very least six individuals had been killed. In an earlier submit, he had stated three individuals have been killed, at the very least seven have been believed trapped underneath the rubble and that 25 others have been wounded.

President condemns assault

“Russian killers continue their war against residential buildings, ordinary cities and people,” Zelensky, who was born in Kryvyi Rih, stated on Telegram.

Russia didn’t instantly touch upon the assault. It has repeatedly struck cities throughout Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in February 2022 although it denies focusing on civilians.

Moscow has additionally accused Ukraine of cross-border shelling as Kyiv carries out counter-offensive operations. The governor of Kursk in Russia stated on Tuesday a number of homes had been broken and energy provides disrupted in two villages within the area close to the border.

During the early hours of Tuesday, air raid sirens blared throughout the entire of Ukraine, with Kyiv’s navy officers saying air defence forces destroyed all Russian missiles focusing on the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine’s high navy command stated that air forces destroyed 10 out of 14 cruise missiles Russia launched on Ukraine and one of many 4 Iranian-made drones.