Six civilians were killed and 15 wounded by a barbaric Russian missile attack on a humanitarian aid queue on Thursday.
A suspected truck-mounted Grad multiple-rocket launcher hit the innocent victims, adding to the growing list of alleged war crimes by Moscow’s troops.
The deadly blasts left dead bodies on a street in Kharkiv, Ukraine ’s second city, which is just 20 miles from the Russian border, officials said.
Regional Governor Oleg Sinegubov said: “The Russians fired long-range weapons at the Nova Poshta office where Kharkiv residents were receiving aid.
“Preliminary information suggests that six civilians were killed and 15 others were injured and admitted to hospital.”
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Elsewhere in Ukraine’s battle for survival in an increasingly brutal war a Russian warship was destroyed by a missile attack and two others badly damaged.
The landing ship - which can carry ten tanks and 350 commandos was the Orsk and was attacked by Ukrainian forces in the occupied port of Berdyansk.
Berdyansk is west of the besieged port of Mariupol and was seized four days after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Russia says it has used the port as a base to ferry in equipment for its troops and its army hailed the arrival of the Orsk as an “epic event.”
Ukraine was promised thousands more anti- tank weapons yesterday (thurs) by European countries inclining the Ik, Sweden and Germany.
In the city of Ivano Frankivsk, west Ukraine, shooting was heard overnight as troops opened fire on Russian drones, blowing them out of the sky.
Local Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv called for calm among locals, saying in a statement:
“Please, I beg you – shots can be in any town and village. Everything is calm, everything is fine, our military has worked.
“If you hear shots – stay at home, do not knock on the neighbours.
“Thank you for the Armed Forces who worked on the drones.
“Once again I want to talk to you seriously. I appeal to everyone: it is very important that we all realize that Ukraine is at war.
“During the war, shots can be heard anywhere in the country, city or village. “Everything is under control! Keep calm and stay at home. With faith in our victory! Glory to Ukraine!”
The military presence in Ivano Frankivsk has increased in the past few days.
Troops are digging trenches and preparing defences, including, as revealed by the Mirror two weeks ago 10,000 Molotov Cocktails on the city’s rooftops - ready to be hurled at Russian troops if they come.
