Death toll in Russian missile strike in Donetsk climbs to 34

Kyiv, Jul 12 (EFE).- The number of people killed in a Russian missile strike against an apartment building in Chasiv Yar, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, has climbed to 34, the region’s military administration head said Tuesday.

“Rescuers have already recovered 34 bodies and rescued nine injured civilians from under the rubble of an apartment block in Chasiv Yar. Among those killed, there is a child,” Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Telegram.

He added that the State Emergency Service had cleared about 70 percent of the debris, and search and rescue operations were ongoing.

Local authorities have also said that more than 30 people could still be trapped under the rubble in one of the deadliest attacks launched by Russia since it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

In a separate Telegram post later, Kyrylenko said that at least 602 civilians have been killed and 1,502 wounded in Russian attacks in the Donetsk region since the start of the invasion.

“The number of Russian victims in Mariupol and Volnovas is currently unknown,” he added. EFE

rml/pd