KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - A deadly attack on a boarding school in Sudzha, located in Russia's Kursk region, has sparked competing claims between Ukraine and Russia, each blaming the other for the strike. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Saturday night that the attack resulted in the deaths of four individuals, with an additional four suffering serious injuries. Furthermore, 84 people were successfully rescued from the debris by Ukrainian servicemen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of bombing the boarding school, which was reportedly being used as a shelter by civilians preparing for evacuation. The Ukrainian military stated that those requiring further medical attention were evacuated to facilities in Ukraine, emphasizing their commitment to provide aid in the wake of this tragic event.
Conversely, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed early Sunday morning that it was Ukrainian forces who launched a missile strike on the school, stating that the missiles originated from Ukraine's Sumy region. This back-and-forth accusation highlights the ongoing tension and misinformation that plagues both sides of the conflict.
Adding to the tragic developments, the death toll from a separate Russian missile strike on an apartment building in Poltava, Ukraine, has risen to 14, including the deaths of two children. Local officials confirmed that seventeen others were injured following the attack on the five-story residential building, as reported by Ukraine's State Emergency Service.
Additionally, Ukrainian officials reported that Moscow had launched 55 drones into Ukraine overnight on Sunday. The Air Force of Ukraine issued a statement indicating that 40 of these drones were destroyed during the assault, while an additional 13 were classified as "lost," likely due to electronic jamming. This increase in drone attacks signals an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
In the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, two individuals were wounded due to a drone attack, according to regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The situation in Russia remains tense as well, with the Defense Ministry announcing that five Ukrainian drones were shot down across several regions in western Russia, specifically three in the Kursk region and one each in the Belgorod and Bryansk regions. Tragically, a man was reported killed in a separate drone strike in the Belgorod region, as shared by regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
As the war continues to unfold, the humanitarian impact remains severe, with many innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. The conflicting narratives from both Russia and Ukraine add complexity to an already chaotic situation, illustrating the deep divides and challenges in achieving peace between the neighboring countries.
