KYIV, UKRAINE(AP) – Ukrainian authorities have made arrests in connection with a devastating rocket attack on a busy pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk, killing at least 11 people, including three teenagers. Tuesday night’s attack wounded 61 people and was another example of Russia’s relentless air raids in the 16-month war.
The Ukrainian National Police said it had arrested a man suspected of coordinating a Russian rocket attack. Authorities said the detainee was a gas transportation company employee who filmed the restaurant for Russians and provided information about its popularity. However, so far no concrete evidence has been presented to support these claims.
A strike at a pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk also caused a lot of damage in the surrounding area. Regional governor Pablo Kirilenko said 18 high-rise buildings, 65 residential units, five schools, two kindergartens, a shopping center, an administrative building and leisure facilities were affected, among others.
Initial reports attributed the attack to an S-300 surface-to-air missile used by Russian forces to target the city. However, the National Police later confirmed that Iskandar short-range ballistic missiles were used in the attack.
Kramatorsk is a frontline city in the conflict and home to the regional headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The pizza restaurant that was attacked was a popular gathering place for journalists, aid workers, soldiers and locals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky downplayed the threat posed by Wagner’s forces from Belarus and said he did not expect a significant influx of mercenaries into the region. But he reiterated that Ukrainian forces remain vigilant and can maintain control along the border with Belarus. As the conflict drags on, US President Joe Biden has commented on the situation, declaring that Putin’s claim to power is weakening. Biden acknowledged uncertainty about the extent of Putin’s downfall, but stressed that the Russian leader was losing ground both at home and in the war with Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of helping orchestrate a Russian rocket attack on a pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk. The ongoing bombings in Ukraine show that Russia’s aggressive actions continue despite domestic political and military unrest. The conflict continues to escalate, with devastating effects on civilians caught in the crossfire.
