Ukrainian emergency workers continued their search for survivors Monday after a Russian strike on an apartment building in Dnipro left at least 40 dead and 30 still missing, according to reports.
A multi-story apartment building housing around 1,700 people was struck Saturday by a Russian missile, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Ukrainian civilians since the start of the war, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Authorities said 39 people have been rescued and at least 75 wounded, according to the outlet.
Ukraine’s Air Force said a Russian Kh-22 missile struck the apartment building, but the Kremlin flatly denied any targeting of the civilian site, Reuters reported Monday. “The Russian Armed Forces do not strike residential buildings or social infrastructure facilities,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to the outlet. “Attacks are made on military targets, either obvious or disguised.” (RELATED: US Ramps Up Training For Ukrainian Military Aimed At Large-Scale Offensive Operations)
Peskov suggested the destruction of the apartment building resulted from a Russian missile brought down by Ukraine’s air defenses, Reuters reported. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych echoed the same initial assessment, allegedly drawing ire from within Ukraine and subsequently prompting an apology from the official. He then retracted the apology, insisting his original comments were only based off an early theory, Reuters reported. Ukraine argued it lacks the equipment to shoot down the Russian missile, according to AP.
Eternal memory to all whose lives were taken by 🇷🇺 terror! The world must stop evil. Debris clearance in Dnipro continues. All services are working. We’re fighting for every person, every life. We’ll find everyone involved in terror. Everyone will bear responsibility. Utmost. pic.twitter.com/zG4rIF8nzC
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 14, 2023
Ukrainian authorities launched criminal proceedings Monday against Russian troops allegedly responsible for Saturday’s deadly attack, USA Today reported. The Kremlin meanwhile may be preparing for a “decisive strategic action in the next six months,” according to a Sunday analysis from Institute for the Study of War.