2023 Pokrovsk missile strike explained

Pokrovsk missile strike
Partof:the Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Map:[{"type":"FeatureCollection", "features":[ {"type":"Feature", "geometry":{"type":"Point", "coordinates":[37.17655, 48.28240]}, "properties":}, ]}]
Coordinates:48.2824°N 37.1764°W
Location:Pokrovsk, Ukraine
Target:Ukrainian civilians
Weapons:2 missiles of unknown type
Date:7 August 2023
Time:7:15 p.m. and 7:52 p.m.
Fatalities:10
Injuries:88(among them two children)[1]
Perps: Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Motive:Unknown

On 7 August 2023, at around 7:15 p.m., during the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Russian Armed Forces used Iskander short-range ballistic missiles to strike the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, twice.[2]

Strike

After the first strike, the Russian forces waited for 40 minutes until rescue workers arrived to the scene to try to save the wounded and survivors buried in the rubble, and then launched a second strike which killed an official from the emergency services and wounded more people at the scene.[3] [4] 10 people were reported killed from the strikes,[5] and 82 wounded.[6] The search for further survivors was thus abandoned out of fear of another strike against rescue workers. After a few days, 122 tonnes of rubble were removed from the areas that were struck.

The strikes damaged at least 12 multi-story buildings, including a hotel and a five-floor apartment block. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had hit a command post of Ukrainian army, though they referred to Pokrovsk by its defunct Soviet name, "Krasnoarmeysk". Ukrainian government rejected this claim and pointed out that the attack was reckless and aimed against civilian areas. The "double tap" attack was previously also used by the Russian forces in the Syrian civil war in order to maximize casualties.[7]

See also

Reactions

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an online statement, accused Russia of trying to leave nothing but “broken and scorched stones” in eastern Ukraine. His remarks accompanied footage of a damaged, five-storey residential building with one floor partially destroyed.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Російський удар по Покровську: кількість поранених знову зросла на десятки (фото). www.unian.ua. 2023-08-08. uk.
  2. Web site: Russian 'double tap' missile strike kills seven near hotel used by journalists. Daniel. Boffey. Helen. Sullivan. August 8, 2023. The Guardian.
  3. Web site: Ukraine war: Seven killed in Russian missile strike on eastern town of Pokrovsk . Oliver Slow. August 8, 2023. BBC News. 18 August 2023.
  4. Web site: Twin Russian strikes on Ukrainian city kill civilians, then hit rescuers, official says . Olga Voitovych, Sarah Dean. August 8, 2023. CNN. 18 August 2023.
  5. News: Missile strike on Pokrovsk, in Donetsk, has killed 10, including two rescue workers. 13 August 2023. Meduza. 18 August 2023.
  6. News: Russian missiles kill nine, destroy hotel in eastern Donetsk, Ukraine says. Vladyslav. Smilianets. 8 August 2023. Reuters.
  7. News: A Missile Strikes the Heart of a Ukrainian City — and Then Another . Gaëlle Girbes, Marc Santora. 8 August 2023. The New York Times. 18 August 2023.
  8. Web site: At least 8 killed in Russian missile attack in eastern Ukraine . 2024-02-25 . Al Jazeera . en.