Kyiv (Ukraine) -- Russian missile strikes on residential areas of a coastal town near Ukraine’s port city Odesa on Friday morning killed at least 21 people including two children. This was just a day after Russian forces pulled out from the strategically important Snake Island in the Black Sea.
The small town of Serhiivka was about 31 miles from Odesa. Video footage of the attack before dawn showed the charred remains of buildings. According to the Ukrainian president's office, three missiles were fired by warplanes and struck an apartment building as well as a campsite.
The attack was interpreted by the Ukrainian authorities as an act of retaliation for Russian troops leaving Snake Island one day earlier. However, Moscow described their departure as a "goodwill gesture" in order to unblock grain exports.
In the early days of the war, Russian forces took the island under their control in the apparent hope that they would use it as a staging area for an attack on Odesa (Ukraine's largest port and headquarters of its navy).
Ivan Bakanov (head of the SBU security service in Ukraine) stated that the occupiers can't win on the battlefield so they resort to the vile killing civilians. "After the enemy had been dislodged on Snake Island, he responded with the cynical bombardment of civilian targets."
In the earlier stages of the war, large numbers of civilians were injured in Russian bombings. As Moscow focused on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, mass casualties among residents seemed to be decreasing until this week.
After weeks of relative calm around Kiev, Russian missiles attacked the Kyiv region last week. A Monday airstrike on a Kremenchuk shopping center left at least 19 dead.
Volodymr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, expressed outrage at Friday's attack.
He said that the missiles, Kh-22 were meant to destroy large warships and aircraft carriers. The Russian army used them against a nine-story ordinary building with ordinary civilians.
Serhii Bratchuk spoke on behalf of the regional administration. He said that 21 people died, including children. 38 other people, including six children, and a pregnant lady, were also reported to have been hospitalized. According to emergency officials in Ukraine, most of the victims were found in an apartment building.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, reiterated that Moscow does not target residential areas.
Independent Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said that the Russian withdrawal from Snake Island has "colossal psychological importance" for Ukraine.
He stated that Snake Island was crucial for controlling the Black Sea. It could be used to cover an attack by Russia if the Kremlin decided to conduct an amphibious landing in Odesa or another region. These plans have been rescheduled."
The Ukrainian military claimed that a barrage of artillery and missiles from the Russian army forced them to flee the island using two small speedboats. It was not known how many troops were withdrawn.
The island was a symbol for Ukrainian resistance during the war. They allegedly replied to a Russian warship when it demanded its defenders surrender.
Zelenskyy stated that while the pullout would not ensure safety in the Black Sea region, it would "significantly limit” Russian activities there.
Russian forces continued to push for the encirclement of Lysychansk in eastern Ukraine. This was the last stronghold of resistance from Luhansk's Donbas province.
Luhansk Gov. said that "the shelling of the capital is very intense." Serhiy Haidai stated. "The occupiers are devastating each house with heavy artillery and other weapons. Residents of Lysychansk have been hiding in basements for almost 24 hours.
Haidai claimed that the Russians were trying to take control of the city's oil refinery. Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov claimed that Russian and separatist forces had seized control of the refinery, as well as a mine as well as a gelatin plant.
According to Ukraine's presidential office, Russian strikes in eastern Ukraine in the last 24 hours have also killed civilians -- four in Donetsk and four in northeastern Kharkiv regions.
