One dead and four wounded. This is just one of the dramatic consequences of the bombing in Kramatorsk, targeted by an Iskander missile from Russian forces. A Reuters journalist who was covering the war in Ukraine lost his life, the others – all reporters – were miraculously saved. "Since the beginning of the invasion, Moscow has launched 43,000 missiles at us," Zelensky said.
Reuters said the Sapphire Hotel, where its six-person team was staying, was hit on Saturday night and one of its journalists was "unavailable" and two others were injured. Ukraine's prosecutor general's office said in a statement it had opened a "preliminary investigation" into the attack, which occurred at 10:35 p.m. local time. Prosecutors later said the hospitalized journalists, aged 38 and 40, were being treated for blast-related injuries, brain contusions, broken legs and cuts, while "another of their colleagues is probably under the rubble." But hopes of finding him alive were dashed.
But the winds of war do not abate, with Kiev waking up this morning, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda, to the sound of bombs. The head of the regional administration of the Ukrainian capital, Sergii Popko, stated on Telegram that "the air alert continues", adding that "in the region, near Kiev, air defense is operational". The high official invited the population to stay in air raid shelters. Meanwhile, at the Angelus, Pope Francis launched an appeal: "I continue to follow with pain the fighting in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation. And thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine, I am afraid for the freedom of those who pray, because those who truly pray always pray for everyone. Please, do not abolish any Christian Church directly or indirectly".
(Unioneonline/vf)
