At least 13 people were killed and many others were injured, while buildings and infrastructure were damaged in a triple Russian strike this morning in Chernihivthe historic city in northern Ukraine, which is about 150 kilometers from the capital Kyiv.

The initial tally by the Ukrainian authorities was 11 dead and 22 injured.

Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko said in a Telegram post that at least 13 people were killed and more than 60 injured in the attack, while rescue operations continue.

The attack damaged four high-rise buildings, a hospital, an educational facility and dozens of private vehicles, he added.

Injuries were transferred to hospitals across the city and the head of the district hospital asked residents to donate blood.

Videos posted on social media, the authenticity of which has not been verified, show flames and plumes of black smoke rising over the city.

At 09.03 local time (and Greek time), “three explosions occurred in the city”, Lomako had earlier stated on a television station, hitting a multi-storey building.

“Unfortunately, Russia continues terrorist activities against civilians and civilian infrastructure, as the strike in Chernihiv confirms once again,” Lomako told Ukrainian television.

He stated that several buildings, civilian infrastructure and many private vehicles were damaged.

Russia, which denies targeting civilians, invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It has fired thousands of missiles and drones at Ukrainian towns and villages, in attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians.

In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian cities, targeting the country’s energy sector and other critical infrastructure.

The Chernihivone of the oldest cities in Ukraine which founded more than 1,000 years ago, it had almost 300,000 inhabitants before the Russian invasion two years ago. It is about 60 kilometers from the border with Russia’s ally Belarus.

Zelensky denounces the world’s lack of resolve in the face of Russian terrorism

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Ukrainian military was unable to prevent today’s three-pronged Russian attack on Chernihiv due to a lack of anti-aircraft defenses due to a reduction in Western military aid.

“This would not have happened if Ukraine had received enough means of air defense and if the world’s determination to resist Russian terrorism was enough,” President Zelensky complained on social media.

Volodymyr Zelensky denounces the inadequacy of air defense means and the world’s lack of determination against Russian terrorism

Andriy Germak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also reiterated Kiev’s call for more anti-aircraft defenses.