Airstrike victims were Ukrainian, officials say, rejecting Russia’s claim ‘foreign mercenaries’ died
Global News
Missiles struck near the Ukrainian border with Poland, killing dozens, injuring 134 and raising concerns about Russia’s willingness to attack so close to a NATO country.
As uniformed soldiers arrived at a church in western Ukraine on Monday to see off one of their own, a mother stood on the sidewalk embracing a portrait of her son.
His name was Denusenko Volodymyr, and he was among 35 killed Sunday when Russian missiles hit a nearby military base.
“He was an army soldier,” one of the mourners consoling the mother said of the 22-year-old. “He had a wife and she is pregnant.”
Eight missiles struck the Yavoriv training base 20 km from the border with Poland, killing almost three dozen, injuring 134 and raising concerns about Russia’s willingness to attack so close to a NATO country.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have killed “foreign mercenaries” when it targeted the International Centre for Peace and Security in Yavoriv.
But a day after the early morning attack, the deadliest in western Ukraine since Russia began its invasion on Feb. 24, there was scant evidence to support that.
While international volunteers were present at Yavoriv, none were among the casualties, said Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv regional administration.
“There was not a single foreigner who was killed yesterday in the attack on the International Centre for Peace and Security,” Kozytskyi said.