Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russia-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia province, announced today that a tourist area in Kirillovka village was attacked overnight, killing 8 people, including two children.

"The enemy knew exactly who they were targeting and deliberately attacked civilians," Balitsky accused, calling it a "blatant crime."

According to him, the attack also injured 14 people, including three children. Emergency response teams are on site, and rescue efforts are underway.

Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for Russia's Investigative Committee, stated that Ukraine used drones (UAVs) in the attack, adding that the strike also caused infrastructure damage. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also condemned the attack.

A video released by Russia's Investigative Committee showed several burnt-out cars and significant material damage around a swimming pool, which is believed to be the site targeted by Ukraine.

Ukraine has not commented on the reports but accused Russia of carrying out a drone attack on the private Nova Poshta delivery station in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, killing three drivers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called this a "double tap strike".

A "double tap strike" is a controversial tactic in conflict, referring to attacking a target two times in a short period to cause greater casualties, primarily targeting reinforcement forces, but also potentially endangering rescue personnel arriving at the scene.

Ukraine reported that two other people were killed in the country's south, while Russia stated that two villagers died in the border area and one person was killed in the Moscow-controlled area of Kherson province.

In May, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking a vocational college in Starobelsk town, Lugansk province, killing 21 people and injuring dozens, while Kyiv stated it was a training facility for Moscow's elite drone pilots.

Location of Kirillovka village (red dot). *Graphic: BBC*

After President Vladimir Putin ordered retaliation for the Starobelsk attack, the Russian military launched a series of missiles and drones at Ukraine, including Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missiles carrying hypersonic warheads.

Zaporizhzhia is one of four provinces that Russia claimed to annex in 2022, along with Kherson, Lugansk, and Donetsk. President Putin said last month that Russia currently controls about 80% of Zaporizhzhia province. The provincial capital, also named Zaporizhzhia, remains under Ukrainian control.

Pham Giang (According to TASS, AFP, RT)