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2023 Dnipro residential building airstrike

Coordinates: 48°25′09″N 35°04′04″E / 48.41917°N 35.06778°E / 48.41917; 35.06778
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See also: Dnipro strikes (2022–present)
2023 Dnipro residential building airstrike
Part of the Dnipro missile strikes and the Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
Firefighters putting out a fire at a residential building in Dnipro on January 14 after it was destroyed by a Kh-22 missile
LocationSobornyi District, Dnipro, Ukraine
Coordinates48°25′09″N 35°04′04″E / 48.41917°N 35.06778°E / 48.41917; 35.06778
Date14 January 2023
about 3:30 p.m.
Attack type
Missile strikes
WeaponKh-22
Deaths≥46[1][2] (including 6 children[3])
Injured80[1][2]
PerpetratorsRussian Armed Forces

On 14 January 2023 at about 3:30 p.m., a Russian Kh-22 missile struck a nine-story residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Naberezhna Peremohy St [uk], 118,[4][5] Sobornyi District in the right-bank part of the city, destroying one entrance and 236 apartments.[6] On 19 January the official casualty rate was stated as 46 people killed (including 6 children[3]) and 80 injured[1][2] (12 in critical condition)[7] and 11 people reported missing.[1] 14 children were reported injured, and 39 inhabitants were rescued.[8] The destruction left about 400 people homeless.[9] The strike was part of months-long campaign of Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure that also had hit Dnipro.

This strike was the deadliest Russian attack on a residential building in Ukraine in the previous six months.[10] A three-day period of mourning was declared in Dnipro.[11]

Timeline

Aftermath of the attack
View of the building at night.

A local air alert began at 2:00 p.m.[12] Ukrainian Air Defence Forces claimed it shot down 6 of 8 missiles over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[4] An explosion was heard at approximately 3:41 p.m., when a Kh-22 missile hit a multi-storey building at Naberezhna Peremohy St [uk], 118, Sobornyi District, Dnipro.[12][4][5] At the moment, Ukraine does not have air defense systems to intercept such Kh-22 missiles.[13] From the start of the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (already) 210 rockets of this type had been fired on Ukraine with none being shot down by air defenses.[14]

Initially it was reported that the attack had killed 20 people[15] (including a 15-year-old girl)[16] and injured 73 (including 14 children; the youngest three years old; a 9-year-old girl was reported to be in serious condition).[17][18] Nothing was known about the fate of another 26 people.[19] A 23-year old woman, who was in a state of shock in the bathroom on the seventh floor, survived the attack but lost her parents.[20][21]

On 15 January the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that 23 people had been killed by a Russian missile strike on the building.[22] By 1:15 p.m. (the next day) 43 reports of missing persons had been received, 72 people sustained injuries, including 13 children, and 39 were rescued.[22] In the afternoon of 15 January Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram expressed his condolences to the families of 25 people who were killed in the attack.[23] In the morning of 16 January Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Valentyn Reznichenko updated the death toll to 35 people, including two children.[8] 39 people had been rescued and 75 wounded, 14 of these being children.[8] 35 residents of the building continued to be missing.[8] The destruction of the building left about 400 people homeless.[9] 236 apartments were destroyed.[6] The search and rescue operation was called off on Tuesday 17, when the death toll stood at 44 including five children. 79 people had been injured and 39 rescued.[24]

Among the victims was Mykhailo Korenovsky the head coach of Ukraine's national boxing team from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[25]

Weapon

The missile that struck the building was a Kh-22 anti-ship missile, the same type used in an attack on a shopping center in Kremenchuk on 27 June 2022.[26] Ukrainian Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, said that the Ukrainian army at the time of the incident had no weapons to shoot down such missiles, and that during the year of full-scale war, out of 210 Kh-22 missiles launched in Ukraine, not a single one was shot down.[27] Oleshchuk called earlier reports about the downing of such missiles unreliable and erroneous.[28]

Russia launched five Kh-22 missiles across Ukraine on 14 January.[27]

Investigation

On 15 January 2023, the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine states that the attack could only have been carried out by the 52nd Guards Aviation Regiment based in Shaikivka.[26] The same day, a list of military personnel directly involved in the missile launch was published on the Molfar Global website (OSINT community) in which 44 out of 52 people from the 52nd Guards Aviation Regiment were named.[29] This was the same regiment that struck the Amstor shopping centre in Kremenchuk on June 27, 2022.[27]

On 16 January 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed the participation of the military of the 52nd Aviation Regiment of the Russian Federation in the missile attack.[30][31] It singled out six Russian soldiers in particular.[31]

Reactions

The building next day after the strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian attack targeted civilian apartment blocks and as result was a war crime.[32] In his daily evening appeal of 15 January President Zelenskyy addressed the Russian citizens who had not spoken out against Russia's military invasion of Ukraine in Russian stating: "Your cowardly silence, an attempt to ride out what is happening, will end with these same terrorists coming for you one day."[33]

Former Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksii Arestovych initially stated that Ukrainian air defences had shot down the Russian missile, causing it to fall and detonate on the building.[34][35] However, he later retracted his statement and apologized following widespread criticism of his remarks within Ukraine, and resigned from his position as well.[34][35]

The United Nations called the images coming out from the aftermath of the attack "horrifying".[32]

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a war crime and noted that it indicates Russia's intention to escalate the war.[36]

President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda stated that Russia would definitely bear responsibility for attacks on peaceful cities.[37] On January 14 a three-day mourning was declared in Dnipro.[11]

Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian forces never attack residential buildings and that the residential building had probably collapsed because of a Ukrainian air defense counterattack.[38] The Russian Ministry of Defence meanwhile confirmed their responsibility for other missile strikes in Dnipro.[39]

Dnipro mayor Borys Filatov said that the Russians might have intended to target a nearby thermal power station.[40][41]

Memorials

Proposed memorial in Dnipro is based on this memorial in Würzburg, Germany

An impromptu memorial to the victims of the attack appeared in Moscow as people brought flowers to the statue of Lesya Ukrainka. The police detained some of them.[42]

A memorial square is planned to be created as a part of the site of the destroyed building Naberezhna Peremohy St [uk], 118.[43] It is planned that the "Monument to those killed by bombs" will become its central element.[43] This monument is a copy of a sculpture by Vadim Sidur of a figure of a man pierced by a bomb.[43] This sculpture is on display outside the St.-Johannis-Kirche [de] in Würzburg, Germany.[43]

Aftermath

On 20 October 2024, Dmitry Golenkov, a bomber pilot and chief of staff of Shaykovka air base who was accused of conducting the attack, was found dead in an apple orchard in Bryansk Oblast in an apparent assassination.[44][45]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Russian attack on Dnipro: death toll rises to 46 people". Ukrainska Pravda. 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "In Dnipro missile strike: Nine floors of random death and destruction". The Washington Post. 19 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Число погибших в Днепре увеличилось до 45 человек, среди них 6 детей" [The death toll in the Dnieper increased to 45 people, including 6 children]. strana.news (in Russian). 17 January 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Bildin, Oleh (15 January 2023). "Сидів на 7 поверсі: як у Дніпрі у зруйнованому будинку рятували кота Кузю" [I was sitting on the 7th floor: as in the Dnieper in a ruined house rescued a cat Kuju]. Informator (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Ракетный удар по Днепру. Что происходит на месте трагедии, где находятся ближайшие Пункты несокрушимости" [Missile strike on the Dnieper. What is happening at the site of the tragedy, where are the nearest Invincibility Points?]. dnpr.com.ua (in Russian). 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Філатов: «Місто розселяє людей з будинку на ж/м Перемога, а також виплатить їм відшкодування. Але 236 квартир знищено — з цим має допомогти держава»" [Filatov: "The city is settling people from the house on the victory, and will pay them compensation. But 236 apartments destroyed — with this should help the state"]. Informator (in Ukrainian). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Death toll rises to 29 after attack on Dnipro". Ukrainska Pravda. 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d "Attack on Dnipro: death toll rises to 40 people". Ukrainska Pravda. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b Oltermann, Philip (15 January 2023). "German battle tanks for Ukraine 'won't be ready until 2024'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  10. ^ "В Днепре из-за ракетного удара погибли 40 человек, больше 70 пострадали. Зеленский призвал россиян перестать «трусливо молчать»" [In Dnepr, 40 people were killed and more than 70 were injured due to a missile attack. Zelensky called on Russians to stop being "cowardly silent"]. Meduza (in Russian). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Three days of mourning announced in Dnipro city". Ukrainska Pravda. 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  12. ^ a b Bildin, Oleh (14 January 2023). "Війська рф влучили в багатоповерховий будинок у Дніпрі" [Russian troops hit a high-rise building in Dnipro]. Informator (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  13. ^ "ОнлайнОНЛАЙНВойна в Украине: в Днепре российская ракета попала в многоэтажный дом, Британия первая направит Киеву 14 танков" [OnlineONLINEWar in Ukraine: in Dnieper, a Russian missile hit a multi-storey building, Britain will be the first to send 14 tanks to Kyiv] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  14. ^ Rudenko, Stas (15 January 2023). "«Відхилення від цілі може становити сотні метрів»: у Міноборони спростували слова Арестовича про ракету, що влучила у будинок у Дніпрі" ["Deviation from the target can be hundreds of meters": the Ministry of Defense denied Arestovich's words about the rocket that hit the house in Dnieper]. Informator (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Что известно о попадании российской ракеты в многоэтажку в Днепре" [What is known about a Russian missile hitting a high-rise building in the Dnieper]. BBC News Russian service (in Russian). 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Власти Днепра сообщили о 20 погибших. Что известно о последствиях удара по жилому дому" [Dnieper authorities reported 20 dead. What is known about the consequences of a strike on a residential building]. The Insider (in Russian). 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  17. ^ "В результате обстрела Днепра разрушен многоэтажный жилой дом" [As a result of the shelling of the Dnieper, a multi-storey residential building was destroyed]. Radio Liberty (in Ukrainian). 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Что известно о попадании российской ракеты в многоэтажку в Днепре" [What is known about a Russian missile hitting a high-rise building in the Dnieper]. 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  19. ^ "12 killed as Russian airstrikes hit targets across Ukraine". CNN. 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  20. ^ "She lost her beloved and then her home in the war: what is known about the girl from the photo on the ruins of the house in Dnipro". Ukrainska Pravda. 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Батьків дівчини, яку врятували з ванної знищеного будинку у Дніпрі, знайшли під завалами" [The parents of the girl who was rescued from the bathroom of a destroyed house in Dnipro were found under the rubble]. Informator (in Ukrainian). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  22. ^ a b "In Dnipro, the death toll rises to 23 people, and about 40 others are missing". Ukrainska Pravda. 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Zelenskyy reports about 25 people killed and 43 missing in Dnipro city". Ukrainska Pravda. 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  24. ^ Hunder, Max; Vasovic, Aleksandar (17 January 2023). "Ukraine ends search for survivors in Dnipro, death toll hits 44". Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Из-за удара по Днепру погиб заслуженный тренер Украины по боксу" [Honored boxing coach of Ukraine died due to a strike on the Dnieper]. nv.ua (in Ukrainian). 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  26. ^ a b "В Офісі генпрокурора назвали підрозділ РФ, що запустив ракету по будинку в Дніпрі" [The Prosecutor General's Office named the unit of the Russian Federation, which launched a rocket at home in Dnipro]. Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 15 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  27. ^ a b c Roshchyna, Viktoriia (15 January 2023). ""Hatred for Russia is stronger than fear". A report from Dnipro, where Russian forces attacked an apartment block". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Х-22. Що відомо про ракету, якою Росія вдарила по Дніпру. І чи могли її збити" [X-22. What is known about the missile with which Russia hit the Dnieper. And could she be shot down]. BBC News Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  29. ^ "Ракетна атака по житловій багатоповерхівці у місті Дніпро: імена 44 осіб з 52 гвардійського полку (Шайківка), причетних до терористичного акту". www.molfar.global (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  30. ^ "СБУ ідентифікувала російських військових, які причетні до ракетного удару по Дніпру" [The SBU has identified the Russian military involved in the missile attack on the Dnipro]. SSU (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Security Service of Ukraine names six Russian soldiers involved in attack on multi-storey residential building in Dnipro". Ukrainska Pravda. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Russian Strike Destroys Apartment Building in Dnipro, Killing 14". The New York Times. 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023.
  33. ^ "Zelensky accuses Russians of 'cowardly silence' over Dnipro attack". France 24. 15 January 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Ukraine War: Zelensky adviser resigns over Dnipro remarks". BBC News. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  35. ^ a b Koshiw, Isobel (17 January 2023). "Ukrainian adviser quits after claims over Russian missile that killed dozens". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  36. ^ "МИД Франции: удары РФ по украинским городам — военные преступления, которые не могут остаться безнаказанными" [French Foreign Ministry: Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities are war crimes that cannot go unpunished] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Russia is a terrorist state". Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Kremlin refutes accusations of missile attack on apartment block in Dnepropetrovsk". TASS news agency. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  39. ^ "«Цель удара достигнута». Минобороны России подтвердило ракетные удары по Украине 14 января, в результате которых погибли более 20 человек" ["The target of the strike has been achieved." The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed missile attacks on Ukraine on January 14, which killed more than 20 people]. The Insider (in Russian). Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  40. ^ Bildin, Oleh (15 January 2023). "Зруйнований будинок у Дніпрі: Борис Філатов розповів, куди намагались поцілити росіяни" [Destroyed house in Dnipro: Borys Filatov told where the Russians tried to attack]. Informator (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  41. ^ ""Косорукие скоты промазали": мэр Днепра предположил, куда летела российская ракета Х-22 (видео)" ["Close-armed brutes missed": the mayor of Dnepr suggested where the Russian X-22 missile was flying (video)] (in Russian). UNIAN. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  42. ^ "«ОВД-Инфо»: у памятника Лесе Украинке в Москве задержали 4 человек. Люди возлагали там цветы в память о погибших в Днепре" ["OVD-Info": 4 people were detained at the monument to Lesya Ukrainka in Moscow. People laid flowers there in memory of those killed in the Dnieper] (in Russian). Novaya Gazeta. Europe. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  43. ^ a b c d Bildin, Oleh (4 September 2023). "У Дніпрі збирають кошти на 6-метровий пам'ятник у сквер біля зруйнованого ракетою будинку на Перемозі: як він виглядатиме" [In Dnipro, funds are being collected for a 6-meter monument in the square near the house destroyed by a rocket in Peremozh: what will it look like]. Informator (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  44. ^ "Russian high-ranking pilot found dead in Bryansk Oblast, military intelligence says". Kyiv Independent. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  45. ^ "Russian Pilot Responsible for Kremenchuk and Dnipro Attacks Found Dead, Intelligence Reports". United24 Media. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
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