Pope Francis denounces attack on Kremenchuk's shopping mall, calls for dialogue

Pope Francis has denounced attack on shopping mall in Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk. He said that he continues to pray for an end to war in Ukraine and called for dialogue, Vatican News reported. Pope Francis stressed that he carries "dear and tormented Ukraine" each day in his heart as war-torn nation continues to be "scourged by barbaric attacks." 

"Every day I carry in my heart dear and tormented Ukraine, which continues to be scourged by barbaric attacks, like one that struck Kremenchuk shopping centre," according to statement issued by Vatican. 

Pope Francis called for dialogue after praying Angelus prayer on 29 June Feast of Saints Peter and Paul." He called on international community to come to assistance of Ukrainians "who are suffering so much," as per Vatican News report.  statement of Pope Francis comes after Russian missile strikes at shopping mall in Kremenchuk. Russia's attack on Kremenchuk mall has been condemned by Ukraine and G7 leers. attack on Kremenchuk mall comes amid war between Russia and Ukraine continues for more than 120 days. 

Ukraine claims 18 people killed in Kremenchuk's shopping mall

Ukrainian State Emergency Services press officer Svitlana Rybalko told Associated Press that 18 people have been killed in attack on Kremenchuk's shopping mall. Svitlana Rybalko furr said that investigators found fragments of eight more bodies and a number of survivors were undergoing treatment. Ukrainian authorities have said that 20 people continue to remain missing and crews continue to carry out search operations through rubble of shopping mall.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that more than 1,000 people and workers were present inside shopping mall when attack took place in Kremenchuk, according to AP. In his late-night dress on June 28, Zelenskyy termed attack on a shopping mall in Kremenchuk as "one of most defiant terrorist attacks" in Europe's history. Meanwhile, Group of Seven (G7) leers condemned Russian missile strike on a shopping mall in Ukraine's Kremenchuk city on Monday, June 27. G7 leers stated that Russian President Vlimir Putin and those responsible need to be held accountable for ir actions.

Russia dismisses reports about missile strike at Kremenchuk shopping mall

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has denied reports about a Russian missile strike at a shopping mall in Kremenchuk, TASS reported. She termed reports "latest blatant provocation" by Ukrainian regime. She said that Ukraine has been claiming that 1000 civilians were present in mall and called it "fake news," as per news report. She called on West to question ir regimes about providing and storing weapons near a shopping mall. Maria Zakharova stated that Russia's missile strikes have destroyed storage facilities of weapons. 

Image: AP

Inputs from AP