51 people are killed in a Russian strike in north-east Ukraine

Officials report that at least 51 people have died as a result of a Russian strike in northeastern Ukraine.

The attack took place in the Kharkiv region’s Hroza village, close to Kupiansk.

One of those slain in the incident at 13:15 local time was a six-year-old kid.

According to reports, Hroza locals gathered for a wake after one of their own passed away in a nearby cafe.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, accused Russia of “genocidal aggression” in a post on Telegram.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky only recently travelled to the front lines in the northeast because this area has been the focus of Russia’s military offensive since the summer.

Within 30 kilometres (18 miles) to the east of Hroza, in the vicinity of Kupiansk, Russia claimed last month to have taken crucial heights.

Although it is close to that front line, there is no evident reason why such a little community would come under attack.

Russian soldiers have been attempting to retake Kupiansk for the past few months after Ukraine recovered the city and the surrounding territory in the autumn of last year.

Due to Russian bombardment, Ukraine issued an order six weeks ago for the evacuation of Kupiansk’s populace.

The front line between Kupiansk and Lyman, further south, was described as “one of the hottest areas” of the conflict by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.

The most recent civilian fatalities are proof of that.