Explosion Wave in Kramatorsk: One Dead, Search Under Debris, and New Destruction
In yesterday’s large-scale missile strike on Kramatorsk, one of the largest industrial and cultural centers of Donetsk region, at least one person was killed, and four others were injured to varying degrees. Reliable sources from the regional military administration and law enforcement agencies report that the situation remains tense, and search operations under the destruction continue. According to Pavel Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, and representatives of the prosecutor’s office, as of 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, active efforts are underway to find people who could be trapped under the rubble of the damaged multi-story building. Rescuers are working around the clock to save those who may still be alive. As a result of the attack, a 62-year-old local resident was fatally wounded, and two men aged 69 and 85 were hospitalized with serious injuries. The condition of a 14-year-old girl who was caught in the crossfire and received a closed head injury is also cause for concern. The victims also suffered from mine-explosive injuries, concussions, fractures, and shrapnel wounds. All those affected are currently being examined and provided with necessary medical help. According to law enforcement sources, four more people remain under the rubble, their lives threatened due to severe destruction and limited access. Rescuers continue working in heavy rain and adverse conditions, trying to locate and extract those who might still be alive beneath the debris. The shelling took place yesterday when Russian military forces struck the city with a 250-kilogram aerial bomb equipped with a guidance module. Preliminary data indicate that the target was the destruction of civilian infrastructure and residential areas. The attack damaged at least five multi-story residential buildings and over thirty private houses, many of which are now entirely uninhabitable. The roots of this tragedy go back to the evening of June 21, when Russian troops repeatedly struck Kramatorsk, including a multi-story building in the city center. As a result of these strikes, one residential unit partially collapsed, causing additional destruction and casualties among civilians. Local residents are still in despair, as not only residential buildings but also peaceful civilians find themselves in active combat zones. Local authorities and military officials urge citizens to remain cautious and emphasize the importance of following evacuation recommendations, as the danger of repeated missile strikes remains high. Police patrols and security services are patrolling the city center to strengthen control and maintain order. The local community and volunteers are actively assisting those affected by providing shelter, medicines, and other humanitarian aid. Amid recent tragic events in the city and region, questions of security and finding ways to end the conflict are intensifying. The conflict has long transformed Kramatorsk into one of the most vulnerable targets of enemy shelling. People who have lost their homes and loved ones continue to face destruction, fear, and uncertainty, hoping for a prompt cessation of hostilities and a return to peace.