Brutal attack in Ukraine: rescuers search for 43 missing in apartment building bombed by the Russians

rescue teams in Ukraine They were still pulling survivors from the rubble of an apartment building hit a day earlier by a Russian missile in the city of dniproin the southeast of the country, while the death toll rose to 29 on Sunday, authorities reported.

It was the worst Russian attack on several cities on Saturday. The shelling also targeted the capital kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkivending a two-week lull in Russian attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure and urban centers.

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Russia fired 33 cruise missiles on Saturday, of which 21 were shot down, according to General Valeriy Zaluzhny, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In dniproworkers used a crane to try to rescue people trapped on the upper floors of the apartment tower where about 1,700 people lived. Some residents called for help with lights on their mobile phones.

Local residents help with rescue operations in a residential building damaged by Russian bombing in Dnipro, southeastern Ukraine, on January 14, 2023. (EFE/EPA/STR).

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported Sunday that at least 73 people were injured and 43 were missing, and 39 people were rescued.

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“Search and rescue operations and the dismantling of dangerous structural elements continue non-stop. We continue to fight for every life.” said the Ukrainian leader.

Ivan Garnuk was in his apartment when the building was demolished and said he felt lucky to have survived. He described his surprise that the Russians attacked a residential building of no strategic value.

“There are no military installations here. There is nothing here”, said. “There is no air defense, there are no military bases here. He just hit civilians, innocent people.”

“This is clearly terrorism and all of this is simply not humane”expressed a local, Artem Myzychenko, while clearing the rubble.

This photo taken on January 14, 2023 shows a wrecked car and a residential building that were destroyed by a missile attack in Dnipro. (Photo by vitalii matokha / AFP) (VITALII MATOKHA /)

For its part, the Ministry of Defense of Russia he said Sunday that he achieved his goal.

“All designated targets have been achieved. The objective of the attack was achieved.” said a statement posted on Telegram. He noted that missiles were fired “against the military command and control system of Ukraine and related energy facilities”, and did not mention the attack on the residential building of dnipro.

Also on Sunday, Russian forces attacked a residential area in the southern city of Kherson. Ukraine, said the regional governor Yaroslav Yanushevych in a Telegram post. According to preliminary information, two people were injured.

The renewed air strikes of Russia occurred in the midst of fierce fighting in the province of Donetskin the east of Ukrainewhere the Russian army claims control of the small mining town of solderbut kyiv assures that its troops are still fighting.

If Russian forces gain full control of Soledar, it would allow them to gradually move closer to the larger city of Bakhmut. The battle for Bakhmut has raged for months, inflicting substantial casualties on both sides.

Source: Elcomercio