At least 7 people, including children, were killed and at least 31 injured after Russia launched a missile strike on the town of Vilniansk in Ukraine\u2019s southern Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials. <\/p>\n
\u201c[Today] is a day of mourning in Zaporizhzhia region for those killed in the enemy attack on Vilniansk,\u201d Ivan Fedorov, the head of Zaporizhzhia regional military administration, said on Sunday. \u201cThere is unspeakable pain.\u201d <\/p>\n
Three children were among those killed and eight children were among the injured, Fedorov said. <\/p>\n
The attack damaged critical infrastructure, as well as a retail store and residential buildings, he said Saturday. Ukraine\u2019s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said trade pavilions, households and vehicles also caught fire as a result. <\/p>\n
Speaking to the National Police, one local resident who witnessed the strike said: \u201cIt was a weekend, everyone was having a rest \u2026 it wasn\u2019t even late, it wasn\u2019t dark, a missile hit.\u201d <\/p>\n
She continued: \u201cChildren died, children were injured. So did adults. For no reason. The children had a graduation party, they were graduating from school. They were planning their future.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered his condolences to those who lost loved ones in the attack and appealed for more long-range weapons, saying Ukraine needs \u201cto strike with real long-range capability and to increase the number of advanced air defense systems in Ukraine.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful to all partners who are helping. And the decisions we need must be accelerated. Any delay in decisions in this war means losing human lives,\u201d he wrote on Telegram. <\/p>\n
Recent battlefield developments have seen Russia make slow but steady tactical gains along multiple fronts in Ukraine. Russia also launched a surprise cross-border assault in May. <\/p>\n
In the Donetsk region, Russia has made advances towards Chasiv Yar as it attempts to capture the strategic hilltop town. <\/p>\n
During its offensive Russia has been exploiting Ukraine\u2019s weak spots including thinly stretched manpower and delays in western supplies. <\/p>\n
As Zelensky repeats his appeals for more long-range weapons, these developments have again highlighted Ukraine\u2019s reliance on ammunition and weapons from the United States and other allies. <\/p>\n
Concerns have been raised over how long aid from the US will continue should former US President Donald Trump be reelected this November. <\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s debate saw US President Joe Biden struggle, while Trump questioned continuing to fund Ukraine\u2019s fight against Russia. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very concerned because we, more or less, understand what it means for Ukraine, [a] Biden presidency, and we really don\u2019t know what it means for Ukraine, a Trump presidency. It can be very good, it can be very bad. We just don\u2019t know. And that\u2019s definitely concerning,\u201d Goncharenko said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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