At least five people were killed and 31 others wounded on Monday when two Russian missiles fired at a residential building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, Kiev said. Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko announced via Telegram that "19 police officers, five rescue personnel and a child" were among the injured. He said the first strike killed four people and a rescue official died in the second strike.
"Two missiles hit. An ordinary residential building was hit," Volodymyr Zelensky said on X, formerly Twitter. "Unfortunately there are victims. The emergency services (...) are on site. The rescue of people continues. We must stop the Russian terror. All those who fight for Ukraine's freedom save lives. All those in the world who help Ukraine will defeat the terrorists with us. Russia will be held responsible for everything it has done in this terrible war," he added.
The city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. Donbas, from which Russia is trying to leave only broken and scorched stones. Two missile strikes. An ordinary residential building was hit. Unfortunately, there are victims. Rescuers and all necessary services are on the scene. The rescue of... pic.twitter.com/zsIA7dR6HR
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 7, 2023
The Ukrainian president's message is accompanied by a video showing people pulling rubble from a five-story Soviet-era building.
Civilians can also be seen rescuing people lying on the ground and a car covered in rubble. A second badly damaged building is visible in this video.
Before the war, Pokrovsk had a population of 60,000. The city is located 57 km north of Donetsk not far from the front line.