(CNN) — Eleven people, including five children, were killed in an attack by Russian S-300 missiles this Saturday in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to the local military administration.
“Eleven dead, including five children: These are the preliminary results of the attack in Pokrovsk district. Russians attacked the area with S-300 missiles, killing 11 people and wounding eight others. The main attack took place in Pokrovsk and Rivne. Mirnohrad community, ” Vadim Filashkin, head of the military administration of the Donetsk region, said in a post on Telegram.
“The enemy ruthlessly attacks civilians, trying to inflict as much pain as possible on our land,” he said.
Photos released by officials show rescuers searching through the rubble of one-story buildings and at least one wrecked car.
Donetsk is on the front line of the fighting in the east and is partially occupied by Russian forces.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) said search and rescue efforts are ongoing at the site of the attack, which completely destroyed three private homes.
“As a result of the rescue operation, one man was rescued from the wreckage,” the SES said. “Rescue teams also extinguished the fire in a 100-square meter residential building. A total of 38 people and 10 pieces of equipment participated in the work,” the statement read.
In his evening speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the strike.
“Russia must feel – and must always feel – that none of these attacks will be without consequences for a terrorist state. We have to guarantee that with our strength, our own defense and political capabilities,” Zelensky said.
