Tragic Casualties in Kyiv as Russia Announces Seizure of Key Eastern Town

Russian strikes on Kyiv resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals, including a child, local officials announced on Thursday, as Moscow asserted that it had taken control of Chasiv Yar, an important Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern part of the nation.

In the early hours of Thursday, drones and missile attacks targeted a minimum of 27 sites throughout the Ukrainian capital, according to reports from authorities. The aerial assault left eight people dead and 73 others wounded, a spokesperson for rescue services later informed AFP.

Among the casualties was a six-year-old boy who succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital, stated Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration.

“It’s a devastating morning in Kyiv,” wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybihaw on X. “The merciless Russian bombardments have obliterated entire residential buildings and caused damage to schools and hospitals. Civilians are suffering injuries and fatalities. People remain trapped beneath the rubble.”

At the same time, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Thursday that its troops had captured Chasiv Yar, a town in eastern Ukraine that has been a vital military center for the Ukrainian forces.

The ministry announced that the town had been “liberated by Russian forces.” However, Ukraine’s military later countered this assertion, labeling it a “falsehood.”

In January, sources within Chasiv Yar indicated to The Moscow Times that the area was already under de facto Russian control, as Ukrainian troops had been largely pushed to the periphery.

If verified, the takeover of this hilltop town would represent another notable achievement for Russian troops, who have been making gradual territorial progress in recent months.

The loss of Chasiv Yar could facilitate Russian troops’ advancement towards crucial cities in the Donetsk region, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which serve as major logistical centers for Ukraine’s military and have been home to thousands of civilians who have thus far remained.

Russia has prioritized the capture of the Donetsk region, having announced the annexation of this industrial area in September 2022.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this story.