Russian strike on Dnipro a ‘war crime’: Swedish EU presidency

Russia’s weekend strike on a residential block in Dnipro, which killed at least 40 people, constitutes a “war crime”, EU presidency holder Sweden said on Monday (16 January).

“The Swedish government condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s continuing systemic attack against civilians… including Saturday’s missile strike on an apartment block in Dnipro”, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters, adding that “intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes”.

The death toll from a Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro rose to 40 on Monday with dozens more missing, making it the deadliest civilian incident of Moscow’s three-month campaign of hurling missiles at cities far from the front.

Ukrainian officials acknowledged little hope of finding anyone else alive in the rubble of Saturday’s attack in Dnipro, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the rescue in the central Ukrainian city would go on “as long as there is even the slightest chance to save lives”.

“Dozens of people were rescued from the rubble, including six children. We are fighting for every person!” Zelenskщy said in an overnight televised address.

Moscow denies intentionally targeting civilians in a campaign of air strikes since October that have knocked out power and water in Ukrainian cities, and says the incident in Dnipro was caused by Ukrainian air defences.

Kyiv says it has no way of shooting down the anti-ship missile it says struck an apartment building in Dnipro on Saturday during Russia’s latest volley of attacks.

According to some sources the Russian anti-ship missile, which is difficult to be brought down, because it flies at low altitude, was aimed at a power central located nearby, and hit the apartment building because it was on its way.

At least 40 people were killed in the attack with 30 still unaccounted for, city official Gennadiy Korban said. He said 75 people were wounded including 14 children.

(With additional reporting by Georgi Gotev)

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