Death toll in Ukraine rises to at least 26 after wave of Russian missile strikes

 

The presidential administration in Ukraine said on Friday that at least 26 people were killed and 120 injured after the latest wave of Russian missile attacks.

"In total, 26 people were killed and more than 120 were injured," said Oleksiy Kuleba, deputy head of the presidential office at the airport.

The numbers include updated casualty figures in Odessa, Zaporizhia and Kiev, according to local officials.

About 50 homes, as well as apartment buildings, a school, and a shopping mall were damaged or destroyed. A maternity hospital in the city of Dnipro was also extensively damaged.

Kiev residents described their experiences to CNN when the wave of attacks began:

Victoria Krasyuk: “It was very loud, the house was shaking, it was very scary. It seems as if you have been living in it for several months, but it still causes emotions, it is still very hard, very hard to decide whether to stay or go somewhere, or even That (the country) has to be left.

Tetyana Yevdokimenko: “As a mother, I am scared for myself and my children. ...This time we heard a faint sound, we knew it was far away, but when we saw the smoke, we started calling our friends, my brother who works nearby," he added. Said, "It seems to me that such aggression is absolutely impossible to justify."

Serhiy (declined to provide last name): “Nothing changes, (the Russians') goal remains the same – to destroy Ukraine as a state and all rebellious Ukrainians as a nation. ... Unfortunately, Russia is learning to fight. It's learning to fight, including us Ukrainians. They're stockpiling ammunition and everything else they need."