Ukrainian Rescuers Search For Survivors After Russian Missile Hits Apartment Block In Kramatorsk

The Ukrainian rescue services are looking for survivors after a Russian missile hit an apartment block in Kramatorsk, killing at least three people and injuring eight.

The footage shows rescuers sifting through the rubble after the attack, which appears to have completely destroyed the block of flats.

Smoke can be seen still rising from the destroyed building, with rescuers carrying bodies out on stretchers and in body bags.

A charred car can be seen among the rubble, with a mechanical digger helping to sift through what remains of the building.

The regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, has said: “Rescuers, law enforcement and public utilities are working at the scene to go through the rubble of the destroyed building. It is likely that people are still underneath.”

The Ukrainian police have said that over 100 police officers are working the site and that the residential area was targeted by a Russian Iskander-K missile.

They said that the enemy attack took place at 9:45 PM and that explosives experts, canine units, paramedics, patrol police and other units are working the site.

The toll is reportedly expected to rise as rescuers comb through the wreckage.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said of the attack: "The only way to stop Russian terrorism is to defeat it.

"By tanks. Fighter jets. Long-range missiles."

The footage was obtained from the National police of Ukraine on Thursday, 2nd February, along with a statement saying: “In Kramatorsk, they are looking for one more person under the rubble: the police have documented a Russian war crime.

“As of this morning, as a result of a rocket attack in Kramatorsk, three people died and 18 were injured. 10 apartment buildings were damaged, one partially collapsed. The search and rescue operation, which lasted throughout the night, continues.

“Police officers record the destruction, help the victims, evacuate people, patrol the area to prevent looting. Police evacuation teams were sent to each damaged house to transport people to a hospital or shelter.

“The work of the law enforcement officers at the site since night is managed by the chief of the Donetsk region police, Ruslan Osypenko, and the leadership of the Kramatorsk police department.

“The bodies of three dead people were recovered from the rubble of the destroyed four-story building: the school principal and her husband, aged 47 and 50, as well as a 61-year-old woman. There is probably one more person under the ruins, the daughter of the deceased pensioner.

“Eight wounded, aged 18 to 69, are in hospitals in Kramatorsk and Dnipro. The rest of the victims suffered minor injuries and received medical assistance.

“It was established that in the first entrance of the building, which was destroyed by a Russian rocket, people lived in four of the nine apartments. In total, 63 people lived in 10 damaged houses. Evacuation saves lives.

“According to police materials, the SBU unit opened criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code (violation of the laws and customs of war)."

In a separate statement, the Ukrainian police had said in the early hours of Thursday, 2nd February that over 100 police officers are working the site and that the residential area was targeted by Russian Iskander-K missile.

They said that the enemy attack took place at 9:45 PM and that explosives experts, dog experts, paramedics, patrol police and other units are working the site.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 344th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd February 2023, Russia had lost about 129,030 personnel, 3,211 tanks, 6,382 armoured combat vehicles, 2,212 artillery units, 458 multiple launch rocket systems, 222 air defence systems, 293 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,951 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,064 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 200 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Wednesday evening that there is fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, with Russian troops attempting to advance near the strategic city of Lyman.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces are attempting to make gains that they can show on the anniversary of the invasion, which will be on 24th February.

Zelensky said: “A definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher.”

Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary organisation who fled to Norway, reportedly said he wished to apologise for having fought in Ukraine and wanted to bring the perpetrators of atrocities carried out in the conflict to justice.

He also said that he witnessed Russian prisoners who were taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner being mistreated and killed.

The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has said that he does not think that it would be the right decision to send UK fighter jets to Ukraine “for now”.

He also said that it was “not a solid decision” and added: “I’ve learned two things: never rule anything in and never rule anything out.”

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has said that he is not in favour of sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying that it would probably be a step too far and could lead allies into being drawn into an outright war with Russia.

But Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Ukraine’s western allies to “give the Ukrainians the tools to finish the job”, including main battle tanks and combat aircraft.

Speaking to the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, the UK’s former Prime Minister urged allies to “stop focusing on Putin and focus entirely on Ukraine.

Spain has reportedly said that it will begin sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with between four and six of the tanks set to be supplied to Kyiv.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the growing relationship between Russia and China represents a threat not only to Asia but to Europe as well.