MOSCOW: The Kremlin has asserted that Russian forces exclusively targeted military-related sites in Ukraine following a devastating strike on a restaurant in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals.
The incident occurred at the Ria Pizza restaurant, a popular establishment among soldiers, journalists, and aid workers in Kramatorsk, which remains one of the largest cities under Ukrainian control in the eastern region.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday, “Strikes are only carried out on objects that are in one way or another linked to military infrastructure.” He emphasized that the Russian Federation does not engage in strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Russian Forces Target Shopping Center
Reportedly, Russian forces targeted a shopping center adjacent to the Hotel Kramatorsk in the city center, which housed RIA Pizza along with businesses such as Adidas and Reebok. The strike took place in the evening when the restaurant was bustling with guests, resulting in numerous casualties and leaving 61 people wounded, according to Kyiv’s National Police. Ukrainian emergency services confirmed that among the victims were three children, and they expressed concerns that individuals might still be trapped under the rubble.
Upon arriving at the scene shortly after the strike, an AFP journalist witnessed the restaurant in ruins, surrounded by debris, with rescue teams scrambling to clear the wreckage and search for survivors.
Russia has consistently denied allegations of targeting civilian infrastructure throughout its 16-month-long campaign in Ukraine.
