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There is no relief from the pain or suffering and Ukraine needs its international partners now more than ever, reports ITV News correspondent John Ray.
G7 leaders have warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin will “take responsibility” for launching an “abominable” and deadly attack on a leisure mall in Ukraine.
At least 1,000 shoppers were inside the mall when a Russian missile struck, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in what he described as “one of the most disastrous terrorist attacks in European history.”
At least 13 people have been killed and more than 40 injured after long-range Russian bombers fired a missile at a shopping center in the central city of Kremenchuk in Poltava, the regional governor said.
However, the number of casualties was difficult to determine, as rescuers continued to search for the smoking rubble.
President Zelenskyy posted a video on his Facebook page showing giant feathers of black smoke, dust and orange flames surrounding the mall, with emergency crews rushing to look for victims of broken metal and concrete and turn off fires.
“The invaders hit the mall with rockets, where there were more than a thousand civilians … The number of victims is unimaginable,” the president wrote on Facebook.
Firefighters are working to put out the fire at the destroyed mall. Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
In a joint statement, G7 leaders – who met on Monday pledged to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” – said they “solemnly condemn the abominable attack on a Kremenchuk shopping center”.
“We are united with Ukraine to mourn the innocent victims of this brutal attack.
“Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held accountable.
“Today, we underlined our unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, an unjust election war that lasted 124 days.”
Mr Zelenskyy previously stressed that the target of the mall “posed no threat to the Russian army” and “had no strategic value”. He accused Russia of sabotaging “people’s attempts to live a normal life, which makes the occupiers so angry.”
“Russia continues to eliminate its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to wait for decency and humanity on its part,” Zelenskyy continued.
One missile hit the mall and another hit a sports field in the city, said Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov.
The Ukrainian army said the mall was hit by missiles fired by long-range Russian Tu-22M3 bombers from the sky over the western Kursk region.
Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the attack “affected a very crowded area, which is 100% sure it will have no link to the armed forces.”
Officials say many are feared to have been killed in the Kremenchuk attack. Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
At a G7 meeting in Germany on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized the “barbarity” of Russian President Vladimir Putin after the attack on Kremenchuk.
“This terrible attack has once again demonstrated the depths of cruelty and barbarism into which the Russian leader will sink,” he said.
“Once again, our thoughts are with the families of innocent victims in Ukraine. Putin must realize that his behavior will only strengthen the determination of Ukraine and all other G7 countries to maintain- to be with Ukraine for as long as necessary ”.
The attack took place when Russia was mounting a total assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern region of Luhansk: the city of Lysychansk.
Moscow troops were “pouring fire” on Lysychansk from land and air, according to the local governor.
A woman injured by a Russian bombing in the center of the city of Slavyansk, Donetsk. Credit: AP
The latest attacks come just a day after the big blasts hit the capital Kyiv on Sunday morning, with a nearby nursery that was damaged by a crater in the courtyard.
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, said one person died, four people were hospitalized with injuries and a seven-year-old girl was pulled alive from the rubble.
Officials believe that the strike was made to try to intimidate Ukraine before the international summits on Monday and in the coming days, where support for the country will be one of the main topics on the agenda.
On Monday, the world’s largest economic powers pledged to “continue to provide financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes” at a G7 meeting in Germany.
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Speaking at the meeting via a video link, President Zelenskyi stressed the urgency of helping his country in its fight against Russia.
G7 leaders pledged to pursue a cap on Russian oil prices, raise tariffs on Russian products and impose other new sanctions.
“We will not rest until Russia ends its cruel and senseless war against Ukraine,” the leaders added in a statement.
NATO will also agree to offer more military support to Ukraine, including secure communication and anti-drone systems, when they meet in Spain for a summit, according to military alliance secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.