Ukraine accuses Russia of targeting rescue workers with consecutive missile strikes

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Two Russian missile strikes hit the center of the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region. (August 8)

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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, people carry a wounded person from a damaged building after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP Photo)

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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers evacuate people from a damaged building after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work on a scene of a building damaged after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP Photo)

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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work on the scene of a building damaged after Russian missile strikes in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP Photo)

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In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, a Russian howitzer fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

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In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, a Russian multiple rocket launcher fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

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By HANNA ARHIROVA

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The death toll from Russian missile strikes that hit apartment blocks and other buildings in an eastern Ukrainian city has climbed to seven, with 67 injured, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said Tuesday.

Two Russian missiles slammed into the downtown area of Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donetsk region that is partially occupied by Russia, on Monday evening, local authorities said.

The missiles, which hit within 40 minutes of each other, damaged nine- and five-story buildings, houses, a hotel, dining establishments, shops and administrative buildings, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to leave nothing but “broken and scorched stones” in eastern Ukraine.

Russian missiles, drones and artillery have repeatedly struck civilian areas in the war. The Kremlin says its forces target only military assets and claim other damage is caused by debris from Ukrainian air defense weapons. Neither side’s claims can be independently verified.

Meanwhile, an overnight attack on the town of Kruhliakivka, in the Kharkiv region, killed two people and injured nine others, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.

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