Deadly Missile Strike Hits Ukrainian Pizza Parlor Amid Ongoing Aerial Attacks by Russia

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Ukrainian authorities apprehended a man on Wednesday, accusing him of assisting Russia in directing a missile attack that resulted in the tragic death of at least 11 individuals, including three teenagers, at a popular pizza restaurant in eastern Ukraine.

The assault, which occurred on Tuesday evening in Kramatorsk, also left 61 people injured, according to Ukraine’s National Police. This incident is part of a series of bombings conducted by Russia in Ukrainian cities throughout the 16-month-long war.

Despite facing political and military unrest at home following a short-lived armed uprising in Russia, the Kremlin has shown no signs of reducing its aerial onslaught. Additional strikes targeted various locations in Ukraine during late Tuesday and early Wednesday, indicating an ongoing aggression by Russia.

In unrelated news:

1. Opposition figure alleges that Belarusian leader approved forced transfers of Ukrainian children.
2. Norway greenlights 19 oil and gas projects, with investments valued over $19 billion.
3. Haley criticizes Trump’s inadequate response to China threats and warns of potential global conflict if Ukraine falls.
4. Leader of the Wagner private army, Yevgeny Prigozhin, evades charges after an armed revolt, while others defying the Kremlin face less fortunate outcomes.

Despite the recent turmoil, there has been no apparent military offensive by Ukraine to exploit the situation. The government has been tight-lipped about recent battlefield developments as it aims to gain momentum in its recently launched counteroffensive.

The Kremlin has been reeling from the weekend mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner private army consisting of prison recruits and mercenaries. Wagner has played a significant combat role on behalf of Russia in Ukraine. This rebellion posed a significant threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hold on power.

In an effort to restore his authority, Putin held a meeting with military personnel at the Kremlin on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he visited the city of Derbent in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region, to commemorate the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. During his visit, he toured an ancient citadel, a historic mosque, interacted with officials, and walked amidst cheering crowds, engaging in rare public behavior for the typically secretive and reserved Russian leader.

Yevgeny Prigozhin reportedly fled to neighboring Belarus on Tuesday, according to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Russia announced that Prigozhin would not face charges for his involvement in the revolt. However, independent confirmation of Prigozhin’s whereabouts is currently unavailable.

The presence of Wagner forces in Belarus has raised concerns among neighboring countries. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of Poland’s ruling party, has announced plans to reinforce the country’s eastern border, citing an expected arrival of approximately 8,000 Wagner troops in Belarus.

Furthermore, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis emphasized the rapid mobilization and movement of Russian detachments within its territory, indicating a more volatile and unpredictable environment for the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy downplayed concerns regarding Wagner’s potential threat from Belarus. He stated that the group’s mercenaries are unlikely to arrive in significant numbers and reassured that Ukraine’s military believes the security situation along the Belarusian border will remain under control and unchanged.

U.S. President Joe Biden commented on Wednesday that the recent unrest has weakened Putin, though he added that it is difficult to assess the extent of the impact.

“He’s clearly losing the war in Ukraine,” Biden remarked about Putin before departing for Chicago from Washington. “He’s losing the war at home, and he has become somewhat of an outcast on the global stage.”

Among the victims of the attack in Kramatorsk were two 14-year-old sisters, as reported by the city council’s educational department. Another teenager, aged 17, also lost their life, according to Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin.

The missile strike inflicted damage on 18 multistory buildings, 65 houses, five schools, two kindergartens, a shopping center, an administrative building, and a recreational facility, revealed regional Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Rescue teams continue their search for more survivors and bodies amidst the rubble of a city that experienced a similar tragedy last year when 52 civilians were killed in a Russian missile strike on a train station, just six weeks after the war began.

Initial attributions of the Kramatorsk strike pointed to an S-300 missile, a surface-to-air weapon repurposed by Russian forces for loosely targeted strikes on cities. However, the National Police later clarified that Iskander short-range ballistic missiles were employed.

Kramatorsk, situated in Donetsk, is one of the four Ukrainian provinces that Russia annexed partially but does not have complete control over. Additionally, Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014.

The Kremlin demands Kyiv’s recognition of the annexations, while Kyiv has firmly stated that negotiations will not occur until Russian troops withdraw from all occupied territories.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked on Wednesday that Putin’s belief in his ability to outlast Ukraine and its allies presents the biggest hurdle to peace negotiations.

“The more we can dispel that notion, the more likely it is that he will come to the table,” Blinken stated during a talk at the Council on Foreign Relations. He added that the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania will offer a comprehensive package for Ukraine, both politically and practically.

Russian forces also shelled 16 settlements in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region on Tuesday and overnight. According to Zelenskyy’s office, a 77-year-old civilian lost their life in the front-line town of Orikhiv, and three individuals were wounded in a nearby village recently retaken by Kyiv. Furthermore, a Russian supersonic cruise missile struck a cluster of holiday homes in central Ukraine, causing a fire and injuring a child.

In other developments:

1. Pope Francis’ peace envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, met with Putin aide Yury Ushakov in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss potential political and diplomatic settlements.
2. Pope Francis reiterated his appeal for an end to the war, praying for peace in Ukraine due to the tremendous suffering endured by its people.

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Contributions to this report were made by Yuras Karmanau, a writer for Big Big News, from Tallinn, Estonia, Edith M. Lederer in New York, and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw.

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Stay updated on the war by following the AP’s coverage at https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine

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