In southern Ukraine
At least 23 dead in rocket attack on civilian convoy
09/30/2022, 10:47 am
In the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia, civilians are heading to Russian-occupied territory to pick up relatives and distribute relief supplies. On the way south, the convoy is hit by rockets. Dozens of people die or are injured.
At least 23 people were killed in a rocket attack on a civilian car convoy in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia, according to Ukrainian sources. Another 28 people were injured, according to the governor of the Zaporizhia regional administration, Olexander Starukh. Staruch blamed Russian troops for the attack. The information cannot be verified independently.
The convoy was shot at as it was leaving the city to enter the area occupied by Russian troops. People would have wanted to pick up relatives there and bring help. Rescue workers and paramedics are on site, Staruch said.
Photographs taken show bodies lying on the ground and in vehicles on the sprawling grounds of a car market. A crater gapes near two lines of vehicles. Rocks and shrapnel damaged cars and vans. The vehicles are packed with belongings, blankets and suitcases.
The head of the Russian occupation administration for the Zaporizhia region, Vladimir Rogov, accused Ukrainian troops of shelling the convoy on his Telegram channel. According to him, 23 people were killed and 34 injured when trying to enter Russian-controlled territory. Moscow has repeatedly denied intentionally targeting civilians, despite Russian attacks devastating entire Ukrainian cities and towns.
In the afternoon, the Kremlin wants to officially annex the Zaporizhia region as one of four regions, along with Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk. So far, Russian troops have occupied around 70 percent of the region – but not the regional capital Zaporizhia itself.
Sham referendums on joining Russia were recently held in the regions. The West and Kyiv reject the votes under the Russian occupying power because they took place without Ukraine’s consent, under martial law and not according to democratic principles.