Ukraine says 51 killed in Russian attack on Kharkiv village

Ukrainian officials say at least 51 people have been killed in a Russian missile assault on a village in the country’s northeast, in what seemed to be one of the deadliest such attacks in months.

Ukrainian officials say at least 51 people have been killed in a Russian missile assault on a village in the country’s northeast, in what seemed to be one of the deadliest such attacks in months.

Oleh Syniehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said the afternoon strike on Thursday hit a cafe and a store in the village of Hroza, about 30km (20 miles) west of the front line town of Kupiansk, with many civilians present at the time of the attack.

He added that a six-year-old child was among the dead.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said residents of the small village of about 330 people had been holding a memorial service in the cafe that was struck.

“From every family, from every household, there were people present at this commemoration. This is a terrible tragedy,” Klymenko told Ukrainian television.

There was no immediate comment by Russia, which in the past has denied hitting civilian targets.