Russian missile strike on a mall in Kremenchuk on Tuesday has left countries debating whether it was a mistake or a well-planned brutal attack by Russia. At least 18 people were killed and 59 were injured in this attack as per the data issued by Ukrainian the government.
Attack on a shopping mall packed with people has become another big issue in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky lashed out after the attack and regarded as “One of the most brazen terrorist acts in European history.”
Ukrainian president further added that the “Russian government is deliberately terrorising the civilians.”
The attack has been already condemned by the United Nations and other world leaders. But the Russian media has been continuously supporting the attack by regarding it as “staged and false”. Russian media also claimed the mall to be non-functioning and said ammunition was stored in that mall.
Russian contradictory statements have been denied by various western media firms and the survivors who were inside the mall at the time of the attack. A local woman has said that the mall was always open, and she used to go there regularly. She also shared a video she recorded in the mall two days prior to the attack. A similar video is circulating on youtube showing regular business within the building.
Amidst the exchanging blaming and controversy UK’s defence ministry has tweeted that “there is a realistic possibility the missile strike on Kremenchuk shopping centre on 27 June 2022 was intended to hit a nearby infrastructure target. Russia’s deputy UN ambassador cites that the missiles struck the hangars in the Kremenchuk road machinery plant, and a fire was spread to the mall”.
Volodymyr Zelensky is repeatedly saying it is a calculated Russian attack and calling Putin a terrorist. He is also asking the UN to expel Russia.