The Russian authorities have reported a devastating strike by Kyiv on a bakery in the Moscow-controlled Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine, claiming that as many as 28 people, including a child, were killed. The incident said to involve the use of a HIMARS rocket system, occurred in the city of Lysychansk, which came under Russian control in July 2022.
The Kremlin, in response to the attack, asserted that Ukrainian forces deliberately targeted the bakery on a Saturday, a day when residents traditionally gather for pastry and groceries, including elderly people and families with children. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, labeled the bombing as an act of terrorism by Ukraine, emphasizing what she described as the criminal nature of the government in Kyiv.
According to reports from the Russian news agency TASS, the Ukrainian strike partially damaged the building. The Russian Emergencies Ministry indicated that 10 people were rescued, but tragically, 28 individuals, including a child, lost their lives. Search and rescue operations were underway, with around 65% of the destroyed construction elements already retrieved.
Russian officials claimed that the attack was carried out by a US-constructed HIMARS multiple rocket launch system. Leonid Pasechnik, an official from LPR, declared Sunday a day of mourning for the victims of what he described as a barbaric Ukrainian strike on Lysychansk. The incident adds to the ongoing tensions and conflict in the region.
