Ukraine’s Zelensky slams ‘barbaric’ Russian strike on museum

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox

Ukrainian rescuers remove debris after a rocket attack on the local history museum in the city of Kupiansk, Ukraine, on April 25.

Ukrainian rescuers remove debris after a rocket attack on the local history museum in the city of Kupiansk, Ukraine, on April 25.

PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Follow topic:

KYIV – Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said Russia was trying to erase Ukraine’s history and culture after a missile strike on a museum killed two people and wounded 10.

Mr Zelensky reported the strike on a local history museum in Kupiansk, a city near the frontline in the north-east, and gave an updated toll in his evening video address.

“Russia killed two women with this strike... 10 people were wounded, they are being provided with the necessary assistance,” he said.

Earlier, he had reported one death, accusing Russia of “killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods” and “doing everything to destroy us completely. Our history, our culture, our people”.

He posted a video on Telegram of people in military uniform walking through the rubble of a partly destroyed building with its windows shattered.

In his video address, he said Russia had in total destroyed more than 60 museums and galleries.

Ukraine regained Kupiansk, a key rail hub in north-eastern Ukraine, in September.

As fear mounted that Russia might be pushing to retake the city, Ukraine ordered vulnerable residents to evacuate at the beginning of March. AFP


See more on