Russian 'beasts' bomb blood transfusion centre as Zelensky condemns 'war crime'

06 August 2023 , 01:42

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Rescuers are still trying to tackle the blaze after the strike, Zelensky said (Image: @ZelenskyyUa)

Ukraine's president has slammed Russian 'beasts' who bombed ablood transfusion centre in the north-east of the country, killing and injuring people.

Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out after the strike on the Kupiansk community in the Kharkiv region on Saturday night.

Rescuers are still trying to tackle the blaze after the strike, Zelensky said. Russia has so far not publicly commented.

Sharing an image of the building, the president said in a statement: "Russia's guided air bomb against a blood transfusion center in Ukraine. This evening, Kupiansk community in Kharkiv region. Dead and wounded are reported.

"My condolences! Our rescuers are extinguishing the fire. This war crime alone says everything about Russian aggression. Beasts that destroy everything that simply allows to live. Defeating terrorists is a matter of honor for everyone who values life."

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Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out after the strike on the Kupiansk community in the Kharkiv region (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In his post on social media, Zelensky described the perpetrators as "beasts" who were seeking to "destroy everything that simply allows to live". He did not disclose how many people had been killed and injured in the attack.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted the same image as the President, and used the hashtags #RussiaWarCrimes and #RussiaIsATerroristState. The attack came on the same day Russia claimed it had captured a settlement in the area. "In the area of Kupiansk, as a result of the competent and professional actions of the military units of the Western command, the settlement of Novoselivske was liberated," the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram.

Ukraine's leadership had already announced that it had repelled more missile attacks and strikes from Russia in the area just two hours before the blood bank was hit by a missile from Putin's forces. Ukrainian army spokesman Ganna Malyar said on Telegram: "The number of enemy attacks has increased.

"Heavy fighting is taking place. In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy has set itself the goal of regaining the territories lost last fall."

Georgia Diebelius