Russian Iskander missile destroys pizzeria in center of Kramatorsk 12 people killed, more than 50 injured

Update: The death toll of Russia’s missile strike on Kramatorsk has now risen to at least 12.

According to the latest information from Ukrainian authorities, at least ten people were killed in a missile strike on Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, on the evening of June 27. Two 14-year-old sisters and one 17-year-old girl are among the dead, says Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin.

Information on the number of victims varies: according to the Office of the Prosecutor General, 60 people were injured, while the Interior Ministry estimates that number is 61. Reportedly, an eight-month-old was also injured by the strike.

According to Kostin, Russian troops struck Kramatorsk with two Iskander missiles. Initially, it was reported that the strike was carried out by two S-300 missiles.

The main strike hit the center of Kramatorsk. Ria Pizza, a popular restaurant, was destroyed. Dozens of people were inside at the time. After the missile struck, a fire broke out. Eighteen high-rise buildings, 65 private homes, five schools, two kindergartens, a shopping center, a hotel, and other buildings were also damaged, says Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional administration . A second rocket hit a private home in the village of Bilenke on the outskirts of Kramatorsk, where, according to prosecutors, five local residents were injured.

Three citizens of Colombia, who were in a pizzeria at the time of the attack, were injured, BBC News Ukrainian reports, citing Aquanta Ucraina. They are politician Sergio Jaramillo, writer Hector Abad, and journalist Catalina Gomez. The trio were there to meet Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who was injured and is in serious condition. Arnaud de Decker, a journalist from Brussels, was also in the pizzeria and tweeted about the explosion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strike on Kramatorsk terror by Russian troops. “Each such manifestation of terror proves again and again to both us and to the world that Russia deserves only one thing based on the results of everything it has done – defeat and a tribunal, fair and legal trials against all Russian murderers and terrorists,” he said in a follow-up address on June 27.

After the missile strike on Kramatorsk, Telegram channel Ostorozhno, news reported that Russian media and Telegram channels supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine made claims that Ria Pizza was frequented by Ukrainian soldiers, foreign volunteers, and journalists. Propaganda outlet Readovka claimed that foreign mercenaries were allegedly in the establishment at the time of the attack.

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that “hot on the trail,” it had detained an agent of the Russian special services, who coordinated the strike on the cafe in the center of Kramatorsk.

The search and rescue operation continues. Rescuers admit that there may be people under the rubble. The Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office opened an investigation under the article on the violation of the laws and customs of war.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russian troops “do not strike civilian infrastructure.” “Strikes are carried out on facilities that are somehow connected to military infrastructure,” he said at a briefing with reporters.

The Russian Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the strike on Kramatorsk.