Russia’s Saturday strike on a residential block in Dnipro, which killed at least 36 people, is a “war crime”, EU presidency holder Sweden warned on Monday.
“The Swedish government condemns in the clearest terms Russia’s continued systemic attacks against civilians… in Ukraine, including Saturday’s missile strike on an apartment block in Dnipro”, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters, calling it a “horrific attack”.
“Intentional assaults against civilians are war crimes. Those responsible will be called to account”, he said, addressing at a joint press conference in Stockholm with European Council President Charles Michel.
The Kremlin has denied responsiblity for the strike, and has pointed to an unverified allegation spreading on social media that Ukrainian air defence systems had caused the damage.
“The Russian armed forces do not strike residential buildings or social infrastructure. They strike military targets,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed.
The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region said Monday the fate of another 35 residents of the building was unclear, and claimed rescue activities were continuing some 40 hours after the strike.