Dozens killed in attack on train station in eastern Ukraine

(Update: new death toll, more details) Kyiv, Apr 8 (EFE).- At least 39 people were killed Friday and dozens more wounded, many of them seriously, after a rocket strike hit Kramatorsk train station in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, officials reported.

“Russian Nazis hit the Kramatorsk railway station, using an Iskander missile system. Police and rescuers are working on the spot,” Donetsk regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said.

Some 4,000 civilians were reportedly at the station at the time of the attack as people were being evacuated from eastern Ukraine to safer parts of the country.

Local media cited the mayor of Kramatorsk saying hospitals were struggling to cope with the number of wounded, many of whom had lost limbs.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack and said the incident was proof that Russia was “destroying” the civilian population.

“Lacking the strength and courage to stand up to us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

“This is an evil that has no limits. And if it is not punished, it will never stop,” he added. European Union leaders also condemned the attack, calling it an “indiscriminate” and “horrific” attack against Ukrainians.

“I strongly condemn this morning’s indiscriminate attack against a train station in Kramatorsk, Russia, which killed dozens of people and left many more wounded. This is yet another attempt to close escape routes for those fleeing this unjustified war and cause human suffering,” EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, who is visting Kyiv Friday, tweeted

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, echoed that sentiment.

“Horrifying to see Russia strike one of the main stations used by civilians evacuating the region where Russia is stepping up its attack.

“Action is needed: more sanctions on Russia and more weapons to Ukraine are underway from the EU. 5th package of EU sanctions just approved,” Michel tweeted.

Russia has denied accusations that its army attacked the Kramatorsk train station.

“On April 8, the Russian armed forces did not plan and carry out missions in the city of Kramatorsk,” the defense ministry said in a statement on Telegram. EFE Pro-Russian separatists in the region, meanwhile, accused Kyiv of carrying out the attack.

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