AT least 16 people have been killed after Russian missiles blitzed a Ukrainian shopping centre with more than 1,000 civilians inside.
Vladimir Putin’s latest atrocity has been condemned as a “crime against humanity” with fears the number of victims is “impossible to imagine” after the blast sparked a devastating blaze.
Dozens have been feared dead after the missile strike[/caption]
British PM Boris Johnson has hit out at Putin’s “cruelty and barbarism” following the attack, which has left at least 16 people dead and more than 50 injured – with the number of victims expected to rise.
It comes as NATO announced plans to deploy “well over” 300,00 troops to deter Russia in the biggest shake-up of its forces since the Cold War.
Two rockets slammed into a crowded mall in the city of Kremenchuk this afternoon – leaving many civilians trapped inside and scores injured.
Horrifying videos show the entire Amstor shopping centre in flames as firefighters battle the inferno.
READ MORE ON UKRAINE
People are seen gathered outside watching the horrifying scene unfold as shouts and screams can be heard.
And other footage shows people escaping from the shopping mall as they flee the blaze.
President Zelensky there were at least 1,000 people inside at the time of the assault.
World leaders at the G7 summit slammed the blast as an “abominable attack” in a joint statement.
Most read in News
They said: “We stand united with Ukraine in mourning 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 to account.”
In one harrowing video, a male voice is heard shouting: “Is anyone alive? Anyone alive here?”
And a man who filmed the mall from the outside said: “This is it, the walls are collapsing.”
Zelensky warned the number of victims is “impossible to imagine”.
“It’s useless to hope for decency and humanity from Russia,” he wrote on Telegram.
Regional governor Dmytro Lunin confirmed at least 16 people were killed in the attack, with more than 50 injured.
A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians
Dmytro Lunin
Sirens could be heard blaring as fire engines and ambulances hurtled to the scene.
Paramedics could be seen treating victims as they battled through the thick grey smoke.
“The occupiers fired missiles at a shopping centre where there were over a thousand civilians… The number of victims is impossible to imagine,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
The city’s mayor said earlier there was an unknown number of dead and wounded in the attack on the “very crowded place”.
Zelensky stressed that the target presented no threat to the Russian army and had no strategic value.
He accused Russia of sabotaging people’s attempts to live a normal life.
The site was completely gutted by the inferno[/caption]
Firefighters battled the blaze which left people trapped inside[/caption]
The scene is one of utter devastation[/caption]
Kremenchuk is an industrial city in central Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnipro River.
It is around 200 miles from Kyiv and 150 miles to Kharkiv.
Dmytro Lunin, head of Poltava regional administration, said: “Missile strike on a shopping mall with people in Kremenchuk is yet another military crime by the Russians.
“A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians.
“Russia is a terrorist state.”
“Rescuers and policemen are working at the site. The number of victims is impossible to count as of now’
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said: “They said they would be hitting centres of decision making.
“But even the most sick imagination would not have guessed they mean shopping centres by this.”
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has said the attack on Kremenchuk showed the depths Putin would sink to.
He said: “This appalling attack has shown once again the depths of cruelty and barbarism to which the Russian leader will sink.
“Once again our thoughts are with the families of innocent victims in Ukraine.
“Putin must realise that his behaviour will do nothing but strengthen the resolve of the Ukraine and every other G7 country to stand by the Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
And predictably Russia has already accused Ukraine of “faking” the attack – just as it did over allegations of rape and massacres in Bucha.
It is just the latest strike carried out by Putin’s forces against defenceless civilians in Ukraine, with hospitals, schools and homes destroyed throughout his barbaric invasion.
Russia is feared to be using indiscriminate bombing tactics to terrify civilians and attempt to forces Ukraine into submission.
It comes as Putin’s invasion stalled – with Russian general initially believing they could conquer the country within hours.
And after more than 120 days, the bloody war continues to grind on.
Ukraine is putting up a valiant resistance, but they face the massive military force of the much larger Russia.
Putin’s forces were initially pushed back, but now appeared to slowly pushing forward once again.
Russian forces are now closing in on the city of Lysychansk after seizing the now-ruined city of Sievierodonetsk.
It comes as NATO is to deploy more than 300,000 troops in a showdown with Russia in what will be the biggest force since the Cold War.
The sharp increase in “high readiness” troops comes in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, who are not a member of NATO.
Meanwhile, Western nations again pledged unwavering support for Ukraine in the war with Russia, including more sanctions on Moscow and air-defence systems.
G7 leaders said they would keep sanctions on Russia for as long as necessary and intensify international pressure on Putin and his ally Belarus.
Read More on The Sun
“Imagine if we allowed Putin to get away with the violent acquisition of huge chunks of another country, sovereign, independent territory,” said Boris Johnson.
“The lessons for that would be absolutely chilling. The point I would make to people is I think that sometimes the price of freedom is worth paying.”
