At least 7 killed, 129 injured by Russian strike in Ukraine’s Chernihiv; UN condemns ‘heinous’ attack

At least seven people, including a six-year-old child, were killed and 129 others were wounded after Russian air strikes on Ukraine’s Chernihiv, said the Ukrainian interior ministry, on Saturday (August 19). Citing Ukraine’s interior ministry, the Reuters report said that the incident occurred as people were en route to a church to observe a religious holiday.

Russian forces on Saturday launched an attack in the centre of Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine, which had largely remained untouched by air strikes since the start of Moscow’s invasion. Chernihiv is situated about 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of Kyiv, near the border with Moscow-aligned Belarus.

“As of 3:25 pm (local time), 117 people were injured in the terrorist attack on the centre of Chernihiv, seven of them died,” Oleksandr Lomako, Chernihiv’s acting mayor had said on Telegram, earlier. The Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko later reported that 129 people had been injured, among whom were 15 children and 15 police officers. 

According to Ukrainian media reports a public event featuring drone manufacturers had been taking place inside the theatre at the time of the attack. However, Klymenko only confirmed that an unspecified event had been taking place and that Ukraine’s domestic security service was investigating the matter. 

UN condemns attack

In a statement, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine condemned the Russian missile attack on Chernihiv’s city centre and called it “heinous”. The UN official also called for Moscow to end strikes on “populated areas”.

“It is heinous to attack the main square of a large city, in the morning, while people are out walking, some going to church to celebrate a religious day for many Ukrainians,” said Denise Brown, UN official for Ukraine, in an online statement, referring to the Orthodox holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord. 

The holiday saw some in Chernihiv attending church services in the morning. “I condemn this repeated pattern of Russian strikes on populated areas of Ukraine, causing deaths, massive destruction and soaring humanitarian needs,” Brown added. 

Zelensky calls for action

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared a video of the attack which he said involved a university. He also asked the world to take action against the Russian “terror”.

“This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state. This is what we are uniting the entire world against. Today, a Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv. A square, a university, and a theater. Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss. There are casualties. My condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. All services are working on the site. Rescuers, police, doctors. I urge the world to stand up to Russian terror. Provide Ukraine with additional tools to safeguard life. For life to win, Russia must lose this war,” he wrote on X. 

Vyacheslav Chaus, the head of the Chernihiv region, reportedly stated that the “enemy” had shelled Chernihiv’s centre, likely employing a “ballistic missile”.

He advised residents to seek shelter and await for further information. In a post hours later, Zelensky, who is on a visit to Sweden, said “A Russian missile hit right in the centre of the city, in our Chernihiv. A square, the polytechnic university, a theatre.” 

“An ordinary Saturday, which Russia turned into a day of pain and loss,” he added. 

Kyiv missile attempt intercepted

In a separate incident, the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, made an unsuccessful “terrorist” attempt to strike Crimea “using an S-200 surface-to-air missile re-equipped into a strike weapon,” Russian Defence Ministry said. Russian air defence systems successfully intercepted the missile in the air. The ministry also said that there were no casualties or damage caused on the ground.

Putin’s meeting with military commanders

President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting with Russia’s top military leaders at the command post of the Russian “special military operation” in Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia.

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During the meeting, Putin received updates from Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and other military commanders. This is not the first time Putin has visited this command post. He previously held discussions with military officials there in March and also visited Mariupol around the same time.

(Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos)