MOSCOW: Russia said that the death toll from a Ukrainian strike on a bakery in the occupied city of Lysychansk has risen to 28 people, including a child. The strike targeted a building housing a popular bakery, and Moscow claims it expects swift and “unconditional condemnation” from the international community, AFP reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the southern front, where Ukrainian troops continue to face off against Russian forces in a protracted offensive that has endured for almost two years.
Lysychansk, located in the occupied Lugansk region, fell to Russian forces after a brutal battle during Moscow’s extended offensive in the summer of 2022. The city had a population of approximately 110,000 people before the Russian army entered Ukraine.
The Russian emergency situations ministry reported on Telegram that search operations are ongoing at the site of the collapsed bakery, with 28 confirmed deaths, including a child. The occupation authorities in Lugansk revealed that among the dead were 18 men, nine women, and one child.
Russia Alleges Ukraine of Using Western Weapons
Russia alleges that Ukraine used Western weapons in the strike and called for international condemnation. Ukrainian forces, in their daily report, stated that aviation targeted areas where enemy personnel were concentrated, while also striking an area of enemy concentration.
Rescue efforts have saved 10 people from the wreckage so far, with the Russian emergency ministry reporting that the wounded were brought to medical facilities in the main city of Lugansk. The health minister of the occupational Lugansk government noted that four of the survivors are in the “most critical state,” while two others are in a “severe state.”
Russian-held Lugansk declared a day of mourning, and the regional capital vowed retaliation against Ukraine. Meanwhile, President Zelensky visited troops in Robotyne, a southern frontline village previously retaken from Russian forces but under relentless attack.
Zelensky awarded troops for their efforts and emphasized the mission’s importance in repelling the enemy and securing victory in the ongoing conflict. The Ukrainian army reported repelling 27 Russian attacks near Avdiivka, a city symbolizing Ukrainian resistance that has been under persistent Russian attempts to capture since October.
