7 dead, over 100 wounded by Russian missile strike on Chernihiv: officials

A Russian missile strike early Saturday morning in Chernihiv, Ukraine left at least seven dead and more than 100 injured, Ukrainian officials said.

A polytechnic university and theater, according to the officials, were also damaged in the attack. Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko confirmed in a post on Telegram that one of the casualties was a 6-year-old girl.

“Her mother is in grave condition,” he said in another post. “The police officers provided first aid to the girl. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save her upon arrival at the hospital due to a heavy blood loss.”

Acting Chernihiv mayor Oleksandr Lomako said the attack wounded around 117 people, The Associated Press reported.

“There is a park right behind the drama theater, many children and their parents usually spend time there,” Lomako told a local outlet, according to CNN. “There are numerous restaurants with outdoor terraces located nearby as well. It all happened in the middle of the day when obviously there are many people in the city center.”

“This crime cannot be interpreted except as a war crime against civilians.” he added.

In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the international community to “stand up to Russian terror.” In the post, he also included video of what appeared to be damage to the city.

“This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state,” Zelensky said. “This is what we are uniting the entire world against,”

“Today, a Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv,” he continued. “A square, a university, and a theater. Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss. There are casualties. My condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. All services are working on the site. Rescuers, police, doctors.”

The news comes as both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are traveling abroad.