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Tragic Missile Attack on Wake in Ukrainian Village Causes Widespread Loss

by Lucas Garcia
10 comments
Missile Strike on Ukrainian Village

A café in Hroza, Eastern Ukraine, which had been closed due to ongoing hostilities, reopened solely to host a wake for a fallen soldier, Andrii Kozyr. The small community turned out en masse to honor their native son, with attendees from nearly every household in the village.

Disaster struck when a precision-guided missile, identified by Ukrainian authorities as Russian in origin, hit the gathering. The devastating impact led to the loss of 52 lives in a village with a population of just 300. Speculations abound that a local informant may have provided Russian forces with the café’s coordinates, betraying the community.

In a poignant aftermath on the following day, an excavator enlarged the community cemetery to accommodate the numerous dead. Among the casualties were a couple who left four children orphaned, a prominent community figure, and three generations of the deceased soldier’s family, including his wife, mother, and son, who had been granted leave to attend the funeral and wake.

Efforts to identify the deceased through DNA testing are expected to take months. Temporary markers made of cardboard and plastic indicate the freshly dug graves, as the community grapples with the enormous loss.

Only six attendees of the wake survived the horrific incident. The village of Hroza, which was under Russian control until September 2022, is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. Residents assert that the area is strictly civilian, devoid of any military installations. They emphasize that knowledge of the wake’s time and location was limited to community members.

According to Ukrainian officials, the missile involved was an Iskander-type precision-guided weapon, notorious for its accuracy within a range of 5 to 7 meters. Dmytro Chubenko, a regional prosecutor’s spokesman, stated that an investigation is underway to determine if a local resident betrayed the community by passing on the café’s location to Russian forces.

Many locals share the sentiment that the timing of the attack was calculated to inflict maximal casualties. Information regarding the wake had been disseminated within the village just a week prior.

Tragic personal stories are emerging. Valerii and Liubov Kozyr lost their daughter and son-in-law, becoming sole caregivers for three of their four grandchildren. Their 19-year-old grandchild remains stranded in Russia due to the prior occupation.

Emptiness pervades the village. The homes of many who died in the attack are vacant, and a dark gloom has descended upon the community. Grief-stricken residents are struggling to envision a future without their loved ones.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied targeting civilians, stating that Russian strikes are aimed at military installations and troop locations, despite abundant evidence to the contrary.

For the Kozyrs and other grieving families, the future is uncertain. As Liubov Kozyr noted, they are taking medication to manage their emotional turmoil. For now, coping seems to involve a cycle of anguish, numbed temporarily by medication.

The Kharkiv region has declared a period of mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in the wake of this heart-wrenching incident.

Reported from Paris by Hinnant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Missile Strike on Ukrainian Village

What happened in the Ukrainian village of Hroza?

A wake for a deceased soldier, Andrii Kozyr, was targeted by a precision-guided missile in Hroza, Eastern Ukraine. The missile strike resulted in 52 casualties out of a village population of 300. The cafe hosting the wake was destroyed, and the community suffered a devastating loss.

Who is suspected to be behind the attack?

Ukrainian officials attribute the missile strike to Russian forces. They have identified the missile as an Iskander-type precision-guided weapon.

Is there any speculation about a local informant?

Yes, there is suspicion among the villagers and Ukrainian officials that someone from the local area may have provided the café’s coordinates to Russian forces. An investigation is ongoing to confirm or refute this theory.

Who were the victims of the attack?

The victims were primarily civilians attending the wake. Among the casualties were three generations of the deceased soldier’s family, including his wife, mother, and son. A couple who left behind four orphaned children also perished, along with a notable community leader.

What measures are being taken to identify the deceased?

DNA testing is being conducted to formally identify the victims, a process expected to take several months. Temporary grave markers have been erected in the meantime.

How has the community responded to the attack?

The village is in mourning, struggling to come to terms with the immense loss. Flags in the Kharkiv region have been ordered to fly at half-staff.

What did Russian officials say about the incident?

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russian military operations target civilians. He stated that Russian strikes aim to hit military installations and troop locations, despite substantial evidence to the contrary.

Are there any long-term implications for the affected families?

The ramifications are severe and long-lasting. Many families have lost multiple members, and several children have been orphaned. The community faces a future clouded by grief and uncertainty.

How has the incident affected local trust?

The suspicion that a local may have tipped off Russian forces has created a palpable sense of betrayal and mistrust within the community.

What is being done to accommodate the deceased?

The local cemetery has been expanded to make room for the new graves, indicating the scale of the tragedy and its impact on the community.

More about Missile Strike on Ukrainian Village

  • Investigation into Missile Strike
  • Ukraine Conflict Updates
  • About Iskander Missiles
  • Civilian Casualties in Armed Conflicts
  • Hroza Village History and Demographics
  • Kremlin’s Statements on Military Strikes
  • DNA Identification Process in Mass Casualties
  • Legal and Ethical Implications of Civilian Attacks
  • Understanding the Kharkiv Region

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10 comments

EmmaK October 7, 2023 - 8:42 am

Such a loss. The community will never be the same again. And those kids left behind, its just too sad to even contemplate.

Reply
SarahW October 7, 2023 - 9:57 am

Heartbreaking to read this. If its true that someone local gave the coordinates, that’s another level of betrayal. Just awful.

Reply
TomL October 7, 2023 - 9:59 am

Flags at half-staff doesn’t even begin to cover the magnitude of this loss. The community, the families, theyre shattered.

Reply
RachelZ October 7, 2023 - 12:37 pm

Terrible to think someone local might have been involved. These are people you live with, trust, and then this? Unimaginable.

Reply
SophiaM October 7, 2023 - 12:37 pm

If this is not a war crime, what is? Targeting civilians like this is just beyond anything.

Reply
NoraS October 7, 2023 - 12:43 pm

Reading this sent chills down my spine. How does a village even recover from something like this? And the suspicion of a local betrayal, that’s just the final straw.

Reply
GeorgeH October 7, 2023 - 5:25 pm

How can something like this even happen? If its not a military target why even strike it? Makes you question everything.

Reply
JamesT October 7, 2023 - 6:23 pm

Wow, this is just devastating. Cant even imagine what the villagers are going through. Those poor families.

Reply
AlexR October 7, 2023 - 7:46 pm

DNA to identify the remains, that’s just… it really hits you how bad this is. Months to identify? Just horrific.

Reply
MikeD October 8, 2023 - 2:33 am

im lost for words, this is a tragedy on so many levels. The suspicion of a local informant makes it even worse. Unthinkable.

Reply

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