Russia's missile strikes on Ukraine's Sumy cause casualties and destruction

On the morning of September 12, Russian forces launched a series of missile strikes on the village of Bitytsia in the Sumy region of Ukraine. The attack resulted in significant destruction, casualties, and a fire, affecting the residential sector.

The details of the attack were confirmed by Oleg Grigorov, Head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, and Serhiy Krivosheenko, Head of the Sumy Military Administration, in statements to Ukrainian media.

According to the Regional Military Administration, the missiles targeted the Bitytskyi Starostate within the Sumy community, striking the village with three missiles. The Russian assault caused substantial damage to local homes and infrastructure.

Serhiy Krivosheenko reported that the strikes, which are believed to have been launched with ballistic missiles, targeted the residential area of Bitytsia. The bombardment ignited a fire in the affected area, complicating emergency response efforts.

"According to the head of the village, two local residents have been confirmed dead, and five homes were destroyed. The number of casualties may rise as authorities continue to assess the damage. The ongoing threat of additional shelling is hindering cleanup operations," said Krivosheenko.

A pre-trial investigation has been initiated into the attack under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which deals with the violation of the laws and customs of war resulting in loss of life.

Ukrainian prosecutors, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, are actively documenting the consequences of the strike as part of their investigation into this war crime.

The missile strike on Bitytsia is part of ongoing Russian military activity in Ukraine. On September 11, the Russian forces launched 440 strikes on 16 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. One civilian was reported killed in the Polohivsky district as a result of this shelling.

As the conflict persists, Ukrainian authorities continue to respond to these attacks, which are causing widespread destruction and loss of life in civilian areas.

By Tamilla Hasanova