Russia launched a rocket attack on a Ukrainian railway station killing a number of people including an 11-year-old child. 50 others were injured. It happened six months to the day since Putin sent his invasion of the country.
Independence Day was marking 31 years since the former Soviet country broke away from Moscow rule.
Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN Security Council that a Russian missile strike hit a passenger train and nearby vehicles at the rural train station in Chaplyne, a a town of about 3,500 people in the Dnipropetrovsk region – the scene of intense recent fighting between Ukrainian and Kremlin forces.
EARLIER: The Band of the Scots Guards played Ukraine’s Eurovision Song Contest winner, Stefania, on Horse Guards Parade in London,marking the 31st anniversary of Ukraine independence.
The moving video was posted by the UK Ministry of Defence and the Ukraine embassy to the United Kingdom.
At the same time Boris Johnson said Ukrains were “fighting with steel” to preserve their right to decide their own destiny.
It is 31 years since the Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union and six months since Russia first invaded on February 24.
Public gatherings have been banned in Kyiv, there are curfews in place in some cities but on this anniversary the real fear is of “repugnant Russian provocations”.
In the Ukraine, Independence Day is seen as the most important holiday of the year dedicated to the rebirth of the state and of freedom.
This celebration is different though, soldiers and equipment are on the frontline and will be misssing from parades.
And civilian gathering will put people in danger. Putin has indicated airstrikes will punish those celebrating.
But ignoring the day would be defeat.
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Russian strike on Ukraine rail station kills 15 and wounds 50 | Daily Mail Online