Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday accused Russia of carrying out a targeted attack on rescue workers on Monday, following the double missile strike on the eastern town of Pokrovsk.
“This is a deliberate decision by terrorists to cause as much pain and damage as possible,” Zelensky said in his daily video message on his Telegram channel.
According to local authorities, two Iskander missiles hit the Pokrovsk city centre 40 minutes apart on Monday evening. The second impact is said to have occurred when Ukrainian rescue workers had already begun rescue operations.
The victims included security guards and rescue workers who had rushed to help after the first attack. According to the Ukrainian president, a total of nine people were killed and 82 injured.
Mr Zelensky also announced that a meeting of the Crimean Platform would be held on 23 August. This organisation was launched in 2021 by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to reverse, if possible by diplomatic means, Russia’s illegal annexation of the Black Sea peninsula.
It is supported by more than 40 states, along with NATO, the European Union and the G7 member countries.
