Russian troops launched an attack on a hotel in Kramatorsk in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, injuring two journalists and leaving a third missing under the rubble. The journalists, who were from Ukraine, the US, and the UK, were part of a war coverage team reporting in Ukraine. The wounded journalists suffered from various injuries including mind-blast trauma, concussion, a broken leg, and cut wounds. The attack also damaged a nearby high-rise building. The incident was confirmed by the Reuters news agency, which reported that one journalist was missing, while the other two were being treated at a hospital.
The search for the missing journalist is currently underway at the destroyed Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk. Rescuers are working to clear the rubble in order to recover the person who is believed to be trapped underneath. According to the Head of the Civil Protection Department of Kramatorsk City Council, applications from residents of damaged apartments are being registered for assistance in the form of construction materials. The hotel was hit by what is suspected to be a missile strike carried out by Russian forces. Polish journalist Agnieszka Andruszewska shared her experience of being injured in the shelling of Kramatorsk on social media.
In addition to the attack on Kramatorsk, other areas in Ukraine also came under fire from Russian forces. The eastern Kharkiv region reported multiple civilian injuries as a result of the strikes. In the Chuhuiv region of Kharkiv, five people, including a 4-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, were injured when two houses were hit by Russian fire. In Kharkiv city, eight people were wounded after a two-story house was set on fire by a Russian attack. In the Balakliia area, six houses were destroyed and others were damaged, injuring a 55-year-old man. In Kupiansk, a house was set on fire by a Russian strike, causing injuries to four women.
Residents of Kramatorsk described the explosion as indescribable and expressed fear and concern over the damage caused by the attack. Despite the devastation, some residents reported that they were lucky to have avoided serious harm. The Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that an Iskander-M missile was used in the strike on Kramatorsk. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction in various regions of the country. The attacks on civilians and residential areas have raised international concerns about the safety and security of the people living in the conflict-affected areas.
In response to the attacks, Ukrainian officials have condemned the actions of Russian forces and called for immediate international intervention to protect civilians and maintain peace in the region. The escalating violence in eastern Ukraine has heightened tensions and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the country. The search for the missing journalist in Kramatorsk highlights the risks faced by journalists and civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict. The international community continues to monitor the situation in Ukraine and advocate for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
