In a devastating attack, Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles on the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuries to 41 others, including four children. The missiles, which struck 30 minutes apart, caused significant destruction, with six cars and 16 houses damaged, and one house completely destroyed. The attack, one of the largest on civilians in recent times, left the town reeling and prompted a vow of retaliation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Regional Governor Vadym Filashkin described the attack as a significant escalation in the conflict. Among the injured were three girls aged 9, 11, and 13, and a 12-year-old boy. The missiles left a large crater and nearby houses were reduced to ruins. Petro, a local resident, tragically lost his son in the attack, with his grandson also injured and taken to hospital. Residents like 70-year-old Nikolay Kurilov were caught off guard, with Kurilov recounting how he was watering flowers in his garden when the first missile struck just 500 meters away.
The town of Pokrovsk, located about 24km from the front line, had a population of approximately 61,000 before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The area has seen intense fighting recently, with Russian forces focusing their efforts on the Donetsk region, which they claim as part of Russia. The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported 45 enemy attacks in the vicinity, highlighting the strategic significance of Pokrovsk.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces emphasized the ongoing efforts to exhaust Russian troops and prevent further advances into Ukrainian territory. In addition to the attack on Pokrovsk, Russian forces also targeted the town of Kurakhove, killing a 62-year-old man, and the town of Toretsk, where a 63-year-old civilian was killed. These attacks follow Russia’s annexation claims over Donetsk and three other regions of Ukraine in late 2022, parts of which have been under Kremlin-backed control since 2014.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with concerns over the humanitarian impact and the broader implications for regional stability. The attack on Pokrovsk underscores the ongoing volatility and the dire need for diplomatic solutions to end the conflict.
