Russia-Ukraine war - Officials have confirmed that a Russian missile attack on residential structures in the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk has resulted in a tragic loss of at least seven lives. The assault involved two missiles, with the second striking while rescuers were diligently searching for survivors following the initial attack.

The horrifying incident left dozens of individuals injured, among them police officers and rescuers. Distressingly, more than 30 civilians, including two children, sustained injuries as well. Despite the devastation, rescue operations are ongoing.

Positioned approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) to the northwest of Donetsk city, currently occupied by Russian forces, Pokrovsk previously boasted a population of roughly 60,000 individuals prior to the onset of conflict.

Pavlo Krylenko, the head of the Donetsk region, provided somber details, reporting that the first missile strike claimed the lives of five civilians. Tragically, the second strike took the life of an emergency services official, and even a military personnel perished.

Krylenko noted the extensive scope of the destruction, with "high-rise buildings, private houses, administrative buildings, catering establishments, and a hotel" among the structures that were severely damaged or completely demolished.

Expressing his outrage, Krylenko declared on Telegram, "Russia is a terrorist state. And she must be punished for her crimes!"

According to Ukrainian officials, the second missile hit approximately 40 minutes after the initial one, causing further casualties among the rescuers as they valiantly sought survivors amidst the debris of what Ukrainian President Zelensky described as an "ordinary residential building". Zelensky shared a video that showcased a five-story building with its upper floor obliterated. The footage captured the chaos and confusion that ensued, portraying civilians laboring to clear rubble and rescuers aiding injured individuals into ambulances.

The day following the devastating attacks, Russia asserted that its forces had also targeted a Ukrainian military command post in Pokrovsk. Meanwhile, Ukraine refrained from commenting on the reported strike that transpired on Tuesday.

A resident named Kateryna, who suffered injuries during the initial attack, recounted to the Reuters news agency her experience of being at home when the missile struck.

"My vision was engulfed by flames. I collapsed onto the floor. My eyes were in severe pain, but other than that, I'm alright. I just have shrapnel in my neck."

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, reported that at least two civilians lost their lives due to Russian guided bombs striking "private houses" in the Kharkiv Region on Monday evening.

He also disclosed that five individuals sustained injuries as a result of those bombings. The strikes occurred one day after Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian "guided bomb" had struck a blood transfusion center in northeastern Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.

While Ukraine has been striving to reclaim territory occupied by Russia, its progress has been modest since initiating a counter-offensive two months ago.
On Sunday, President Zelensky attempted to provide justification for the attacks on Russian vessels in the Black Sea. In an interview with the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, he expressed Ukraine's need to find an alternative approach to ending the blockade of its waterways.

Zelensky stated, "If Russia persists in exerting control over its portion of the Black Sea and continues with blockades and missile firings, then Ukraine will respond in kind, as a just means of safeguarding our interests."

In response to Russia's withdrawal from an agreement permitting the export of Ukrainian grain and its warnings of potential military action against ships in the Black Sea, Ukraine issued a similar declaration.

In the previous week, a Russian tanker carrying 11 crew members encountered an incident that Moscow attributed to a Ukrainian attack in the Black Sea. This event was preceded by a comparable sea drone assault on a Russian naval vessel in close proximity to the significant Russian export hub of Novorossiysk.

Naval drones, also referred to as sea drones, are diminutive, unmanned watercraft that function either on the surface or beneath the water. Findings from BBC Verify's research indicate that Ukraine has reportedly conducted multiple sea drone attacks.