Russia Blames Ukraine for Train Station Attack, Calls It a War Crime

Russia's Foreign Ministry blamed Ukraine for the deadly train attack in Kramatorsk Friday, as it sent its "deep condolences" to families and friends of the victims.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) committed another war crime by striking a railway station in Kiev-controlled Kramatorsk with a Tochka-U tactical missile," Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

Nearly 4,000 civilians were waiting to be evacuated when the station was attacked, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said Friday. Ukrainian officials said at least 50 were killed and dozens more injured. Russia's Foreign Ministry also blamed Ukraine for a deadly attack in Donetsk in mid-March 14, saying Ukraine is targeting civilians.

"In both cases, the choice of the target was not random, the Kiev regime is striving to maximize the number of civilian victims," the ministry said. "Their murders in Donbas have become standard practice for Ukrainian armed units in the past eight years. By cynically killing civilians in cold blood, Kyiv is trying to blame Russia for its own crimes in order to discredit Moscow's special military operation to defend the DPR and the LPR."

The ministry claimed "conclusive evidence" points to Ukraine, as it possesses the types of missiles Russia says was used in both attacks. Russia promised that Ukraine will be held "accountable," for its so-called actions.

"Such inhuman actions by the Kyiv regime confirm that the goals of the special military operation to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine are fully justified," the ministry said.

Ukraine's Venediktova said an investigation is now underway into Russia's alleged war crimes in Kramatorsk.

'We Want to See Putin Lose,' Pentagon's John Kirby Says

As Russia shifts its attack to concentrate forces in eastern and parts of southern Ukraine, the Pentagon says it presents the potential for a more intense and prolonged conflict.

The shift in approach will allow Russia to concentrate its available combat power in the Donbas region, a more confined geographic area, than its initial approach targeting several parts of Ukraine. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Russia still has a "vast" majority of its combat power available. He said this new focus will likely include smaller and fewer lines of axis over a smaller area.

"You can see that they will be able to bring the bear a lot more power in a lot more concentrated fashion," Kirby said during a briefing Friday.

The Pentagon assesses that Russia's new focus will not affect "in any appreciable way" the ability to continue delivering U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. Kirby said it's too soon to determine if the type of security assistance requested may change, but said the U.S. is tailoring assistance to meet need.

As Russian forces have left Kyiv, moving into Belarus and Russia, Kirby says there are indications they are working to refit and resupply units. That effort also includes replacing lost troops, Kirby would not speculate on how many troops Russia has lost so far, but said some units are "almost completely devastated."

"It's unclear whether they will ever be reformed, or whether they'll be combined with other units that are less depleted in manpower, equipment, vehicles," Kirby said. "So they're working their way through all of that right now."

"We have seen some reports that they are looking at mobilizing reservists, tens of thousands perhaps, but again I think that remains to be seen."

The Pentagon also assessed that Russia is responsible for the deadly attack on the Kramatorsk train station Friday, using a short range ballistic missile. Russia denied responsibility.

"We want to see Mr. Putin and the Russian army lose this invasion, lose this fight inside Ukraine," Kirby said. "It is Ukrainian territory, Ukrainian sovereignty. It is Ukrainian cities and lives that are being destroyed. Obviously we want to see that end."

Von der Leyen Pushes Ukraine to the Next Step in EU Membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with European Union leaders in Kyiv Friday.

After visiting Bucha, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

During a joint press conference, Von der Leyen the European Union is accelerating Ukraine's membership application.

"Ukraine belongs to the European family," she said. "We've heard your requests loud and clear. And today, we're here to give you a first positive answer."

She handed Zelensky a formal questionnaire that, once filled out by Kyiv, will get a response "in weeks," as opposed to the usual years, AFP's Marc Burleigh reports.

"In this envelope, dear Volodymyr, there is an important step towards EU membership," she said. "The questionnaire that is in here is the basis for our discussion in the coming weeks. It is where your path towards Europe and the European Union begins."

She promised to be available to Ukraine "24 hours a day, seven days a week."

"We will accelerate this process as much as we can, while ensuring that all conditions are respected," she added.

She also said the EU is moving on with its fifth sanctions package against Russia and continue providing financial and humanitarian aid and security assistance to Ukraine.

"Russia will descend in economic, financial and technological decay while Ukraine is marching towards a European future," she added.

Zelensky said he will fill out the form within a week and asked for European support to go beyond sanctions.

"I would like to thank all the world, the EU, Ursula von der Leyen personally, for the fifth sanctions package, but I think it is not enough," he said. "The sanctions need to increase, because otherwise, Russia won't listen."

He added that Ukraine can "bring territories back" but it cannot "bring those people back to life."

Global Food Prices, Including Grain, Hit Record Levels

Global food commodity prices reached a new record in March due to Russia's war in Ukraine, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said Friday.

"War in the Black Sea region spread shocks through markets for staple grains and vegetable oils," FAO said.

The FAO Food Price Index hit an average 159.3 points in March, up nearly 13% from February -- which was a then-record high. The price of grain jumped 17% from February to March. Ukraine and Russia are major wheat producers, exporting a combined total of 30% of the world's wheat and 20% of the world's corn.

The price of vegetable oil rose 23%, other oils are also more expensive.

"Driven by higher quotations for sunflower seed oil, of which Ukraine is the world's leading exporter," FAO said. "Palm, soy and rapeseed oil prices also rose markedly as a result of the higher sunflower seed oil prices and the rising crude oil prices, with soy oil prices further underpinned by concerns over reduced exports by South America."

World leaders warned of the potential impact on the global food supply shortly after Russia began invading Ukraine. The shortages are exacerbating existing food security concerns in areas like the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia. Those countries depend on exports from the Black Sea which have been blocked or compromised by Russian forces. Ukrainian officials have also reported several attacks on ag machinery.

"Essentially, there are no exports through the Black Sea, and exports through the Baltics is practically also coming to an end," FAO Deputy Director of Markets and Trade Josef Schmidhuber said.

War Crime Investigations Underway After Railway Attack

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General said an investigation is underway into Russia's alleged war crimes in Kramatorsk.

"On April 8, 2022, the armed forces of the [Russian Federation] in violation of [international humanitarian laws] launched missile strikes on the Kramatorsk railway station where almost 4,000 civilians were waiting to be evacuated," Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said in a tweet.

Venediktova also said that bodies have been exhumed from temporary mass graves in Bucha to be examined by prosecutors and forensic teams.

"We already have over 100 pages of data about invaders, who occupied Bucha," she said. "Our current task is to identify all involved in the massacre."

She said Thursday that there is evidence of Russian war crimes "at every turn" in the besieged city of Borodianka, including cluster bombs, missiles, burned elements of the "Smerch."

"The whole world strives for peace and justice." she said. "Russia will be held accountable for its every deadly step."

The Prosecutor General Office is coordinating war crime investigations in Bucha, Borodianka, Irpin, and Gostomel.

Train Attack Increases U.S. Resolve to Investigate War Crimes

The U.S. State Department says the train attack in Kramatorsk demonstrates why Russia "did not belong on the U.N. Human Rights Council."

State Department Spokesperson Jalina Porter also said the strike reinforces the "U.S. assessment that members of Russia's forces are committing war crimes in Ukraine."

Porter stopped short of calling Friday's attack a "war crime," pending the investigation process. She reiterated the State Department's commitment to holding those who commit war crimes accountable, saying the attack "further increased our resolve" to support those investigating potential war crimes.

Thousands of civilians were waiting on the train platform to evacuate Friday when the station was hit by Russian missiles. The governor of the Donetsk region said at least 50 people have died, including five children, according to the Associated Press.

Thursday, The United Nations General Assembly voted to suspend the Russian Federation from the U.N. Human Rights Council in a 93-24 vote (with 58 abstentions). The vote came days after the horrific attacks in Bucha, where bodies continue to be found. Russia called recent events "staged" and fake ahead of Thursday's vote.

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Abducting 12 Local Leaders

Russian forces have abducted 12 local Ukrainian leaders since the war began, according to Ukrainian officials.

The Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said of the 12 leaders kidnapped, only one has been released, as of April 7.

Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told CNN earlier this week that Olga Sukhenk, the mayor of Motyzhyn, was killed along with her husband and son.

Vereshchuk believes the other abducted mayors have been killed because Ukrainian officials have not been able to get in touch with or free them.

Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, was freed following his abduction by Russian forces in March.

Russian forces then appointed Galina Danilchenko as the new "acting mayor."

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian Office of the President, said in a Telegram message that an operation to free Fedorov had been "successfully completed." He added that Fedorov will "soon return to his duties" as mayor.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called Fedorov's capture "a war crime under the Geneva Conventions."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Fedorov after he was released.

Biden Calls Train Attack 'Another Horrific Atrocity'

President Joe Biden condemned Friday's attack on the train station in Kramatorsk, leaving dozens of Ukrainians killed and wounding hundreds more.

"The attack on a Ukrainian train station is yet another horrific atrocity committed by Russia, striking civilians who were trying to evacuate and reach safety, "Biden said.

He vowed to continue providing Ukraine with security assistance, warning Russia would be held accountable for the latest attack.

U.S. Sending Patriot Missile System to Slovakia:

Also Friday, Biden thanked Slovakia for providing an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, saying the U.S. will facilitate the transfer by moving a U.S. Patriot missile system to Slovakia. Biden called the system a "critical defensive capability."

"The Russian military may have failed in its objective of capturing Kyiv, but it continues to inflict horrific acts of brutality on the Ukrainian people," Biden said. "As the Russian military repositions for the next phase of this war, I have directed my Administration to continue to spare no effort to identify and provide to the Ukrainian military the advanced weapons capabilities it needs to defend its country."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the Patriot missile system will be manned by U.S. service members and will arrive in the "coming days."

"Their deployment length has not yet been fixed, as we continue to consult with the Slovak government about more permanent air defense solutions," Austin said Friday.

"This deployment of Patriot capabilities to Slovakia aligns perfectly with our previous efforts to bolster NATO's defensive capabilities and to demonstrate our collective security requirements under Article 5 of the NATO treaty."

Metro Shelter Turned Support Center for 1,500 Children

An estimated 1,500 children are living in Kharkiv's metro as of Friday, the United Nations says, saying many have been there for longer than one month.

Hundreds have sought safety in the metro since the invasion began, a natural shelter from the shelling and gunfire above. UNICEF estimates about 4.3 million children have been displaced from their homes, lacking any sense of normalcy, including schooling.

UNICEF volunteers are working to fill the void. Teachers and psychologists are working with students sheltering at the metro daily, setting up children's spaces with classroom materials and art.

"Due to severe stress, children experience insomnia, uncontrolled aggression and even mental disorders," volunteer teacher Yuliia Kruhla told UNICEF. "To improve their emotional condition, we do warm-ups and breathing exercises. We are distracting them from the war."

Another volunteer, Maryna Ladyzhenska, said some children have not gone outdoors for one month, saying many are too afraid.

"There are around 1,500 children at 29 metro stations, from infants to 15-years-olds," Ladyzhenska told UNICEF. "It was UNICEF that provided money to equip playgrounds and spaces, to procure stationery and toys, and to support the volunteer movement."

European Leaders Witness Atrocities in Bucha

European leaders are in Bucha, Ukraine to witness the aftermath of the atrocities allegedly committed by Russian forces.

European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger joined Ukrainian officials to gain a better understanding of the situation and needs on the ground.

The European leaders joined Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to "bear witness to harrowing images in Bucha" and survey the destruction and the "unspeakable price paid by innocent Ukrainian people," Borrell said.

Von der Leyen said this visit was important to send a message to the Ukrainian people that "those responsible for the atrocities will be brought to justice."

"Your fight is our fight," she said. "I'm in Kyiv today to tell you that Europe is on your side."

Borrell promised that the "war crimes Russia committed in Bucha and elsewhere must be investigated and prosecuted."

He said the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine will provide training and equipment to support the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's collection of evidence and investigation.

Borrell also announced he is launching a €7.5 million project to support data collection of missing persons.

Nearly 700 Dead, 40 Missing in Chernihiv, Mayor Says

The death toll in the city of Chernihiv has reached nearly 700 people since the war in Ukraine began, according to the city's mayor.

Mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko said about 700 civilians and servicemembers have died as of April 8. He also said 40 people remain missing and 70 people have yet to be identified.

Atroshenko previously said that 70 percent of Chernihiv was destroyed during Russia's invasion.

"Our city resembles Bucha, and in some areas, it is already like Mariupol. People are worried about how they will live to see tomorrow," he said in a televised address earlier this week.

Russian Troops Fully Withdraw From Around Kyiv, U.K. Says

Russian forces have now fully withdrawn from northern Ukraine around the capitol of Kyiv and are now in Belarus, according to the latest intelligence from the United Kingdom Defense Ministry.

The U.K. believes many of the forces require "significant replenishment" before they are transferred to eastern Ukraine to fight in the Donbas. This redeployment will likely take "at least a week minimum," the U.K. said.

Meanwhile, Russia continues shelling cities in the east and south of Ukraine, as they have "advanced further south from the strategically important city of Izium which remains under their control."

Nearly 3,900 Civilian Casualties, Including 169 Children Killed

The United Nations has recorded nearly 3,900 civilian casualties in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion, warning actual figures are "considerably" higher.

At least 1,626 civilians have been killed, another 2,267 injured, according to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

"Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes," OHCHR said Friday.

OHCHR provides the following data:

• 1,626 killed, including: 418 men, 245 women, 26 girls, and 43 boys, as well as 63 children and 831 adults whose sex is unknown.
• 2,267 injured, including: 267 men, 201 women, 45 girls, and 44 boys, as well as 108 children and 1,602 adults whose sex is unknown.

Child Casualties:

The number of children killed or injured also continues to rise. The Ukraine Prosecutor General's Office reports 169 children have died and more than 306 have been injured, as of Friday. Juvenile prosecutors also continue warning its numbers are not final.

"Work is underway to establish them [casualty figures] in places of active hostilities, in the temporarily occupied and liberated territories," the office said.

That work applies in Bucha, where the city's mayor said bodies continue to be found daily.

"In the town of Bucha, Kyiv region, the body of a 15-year-old girl was found among the adult victims in a mass grave," the Ukraine Prosecutor General's Office said.

At Least 30 Dead, 300 Hurt in Kramatorsk Rail Station Attack

At least 30 people are dead, 300 others wounded following Friday's attack at the Kramatorsk railway station, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"At the usual train station, at the ordinary people, there were no militaries," Zelensky said during a speech to Finland's Parliament Friday. "At the people who were waiting for trains to leave to a safe area. They hit people with missiles. There are witnesses, there are videos, there are remnants of missiles, but there are no more people."

Zelensky has continued addressing lawmakers around the world in recent weeks, as Russia's invasion continues to intensify. The attacks this week in Bucha sparked international outrage. Some countries, including the U.S. and E.U., responded with new sanctions packages against Russia. Zelensky warned that the atrocities reported in Bucha could happen in any country.

"You all know what the Russian military has done in our city of Bucha," he said. "But they still make such Buchas every day - from Kramatorsk to Mariupol, from Kharkiv to Kherson. And I'm sure you realize that if the Russian army is ordered to invade your land, they will do the same to your country. I do not wish you this."

Zelensky has also amplified his calls for tougher sanctions. Friday, he said Ukraine must also "convince the world's powerful states" that more weapons are needed. The Pentagon has warned of Russia's claims of "withdrawing" troops, as they will likely refuel and focus efforts in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky said Russia is now gathering "as many people as possible who are capable of holding weapons" to continue the fight.

"Looking for mercenaries around the world," he said. "Sending militants from various de facto terrorist groups and so-called "private armies" created by some Russian officials. We have seen so many of them among the captured Russian military. Both very experienced killers and very young boys born in 2003-2004."

Videos show abandoned cars lining streets across Ukraine as millions tried to flee to safety. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR estimates well over 4.3 million Ukrainians have fled the country, while another seven million are internally displaced.

"Hundreds and hundreds of cars with gunshot traces remained on all roads of our country in the areas where Russian troops entered," Zelensky said. "There are many examples of such cars with people who were simply crushed by armored vehicles. Literally - crushed by tanks."

How Russia Reported Kramatorsk Station Attack

Pro-Kremlin media outlets initially appeared to claim Russian responsibility for the attack on Ukraine's Kramatorsk railway station—before changing their minds.

Propagandist Telegram channels reported the attack, in posts no longer in the channel's timelines.

A post still available on Friday afternoon on the channel of "Vоенкор diZa," the account of a correspondent for the ANNA news agency who reports for Russia's Channel 1, linked the attack to the supposed transportation of Ukrainian military equipment.

Journalist Julian Röpcke shared a screenshot of this post on his Twitter and wrote: "Kremlin affiliated media first proudly reported the #Kramatorsk massacre... After the appearance of civilian casualties, they started blaming Ukraine," he wrote.

Independent Russian language news outlet The Insider reported that Russian forces were firing at Ukrainian "militants" at the railway station, but when images of dead civilians emerged, "these entries were altered."

Russia Detains OSCE Worker in Donetsk—Report

An employee from the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe has been detained in Russian-occupied Donetsk, Russian publication Kholod reports.

The OSCE organization, an official UN Observer, addresses security issues in countries across the globe. It focuses on security-related concerns including on issues including arms control, human rights, democratization, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities between nations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPR (Donetsk People's Republic), Natalia Nikonorova, said that the individual part of the mission had engaged in illegal action before they were detained.

Newsweek is reaching out to OSCE for comment.

Over 160 Civilians Killed in Bucha, Mayor Says

News to bring you from Bucha where Russian forces are accused of war crimes.

Bucha's mayor, Anatoliy Fedoruk, said 163 residents of the city near Kyiv have been identified following Russian occupation.

He said 320 bodies had so far been found since Russian forces left and more were being found every day.

"These are residents of our town who were cynically killed, brutally tortured by the Russians. We know their last names, first names, patronymics [father's names], where they lived and who they were," Fedoruk told Voice of America on Friday.

Kramatorsk Hospital Reportedly Struggling to Cope

The Mayor of Kramatorsk, Olexander Honcharenko, has said local hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of wounded, according to a Ukrainian journalist, Katerina Segatskova.

There are a lot of seriously injured people without arms and legs. They are being operated by 30-40 surgeons at the same time," the mayor said according to Sergatskova.

She added Honcharenko said that at the time of the attack, there were "about 4,000 people at the railway station." waiting for evacuation.

Rocket Was Inscribed 'For Children'

Photos from the aftermath of the Kramatorsk railway station strike appear to show the rocket that hit was inscribed "for children" in Russian.

Ukraine railway chief Alexander Kamyshin was among those to share an image on social media, showing the words. Getty Images from the scene also showed the incription.

It has not been possible to verify who had written the message when.

Eastern Europe expert Segej Sumlenny said the mesage translated to "for our children."

"Although both "За детей" and "Для детей" can be translated as 'For kids', the latter means 'to hit kids, and the first is more 'because (you have done [something] to) kids'", Sumlenny tweeted.

He added: "'Russian Children of Donbas who are suffering under Ukrainian shelling' was a very popular Russian propaganda narrative since 8 years [ ago]."

Zelensky: Russian Forces 'Cynically Destroying' Ukraine Civilians

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the attack on the train station in a Telegram post.

Posted images of the aftermath, he said: "The occupiers hit the Kramatorsk railway station with a Point-U, where thousands of peaceful Ukrainians were waiting to be evacuated," according to a Google translation.

"About 30 people died, about 100 people were injured to varying degrees."

Zelensky said Russian soldiers lacked the "courage" to stand up to Ukrainian soldiers in the war.

"Police and rescuers are already on the scene. Russian non-humans do not abandon their methods.

"Lacking the strength and courage to stand up to us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population.

"This is an evil that has no limits. And if it is not punished, it will never stop."

In Pictures: Rocket Attack Hits Kramatorsk Train Station

An armed policemen at the Kramatorsk train station can be seen crouching down next to other officers while looking distressed after cordoning off the area. The photo was taken by Fadel Senna.

Cars were completely burnt and destroyed due to the missile attack on the railway station. The picture was taken by Hervé Bar.

An armed Ukrainian policeman stands alone with his arms folded facing the burnt and destroyed cars at the Kramatorsk train station. The photo was taken by Fadel Senna.

Ukrainian police inspect the remains of a large rocket that struck the Kramatorsk train station. The picture was taken by Fadel Senna.

Video Shows Smoke Rising From Station

Analysts Say Russia Has Tochka-U Missiles Used in Attack

Moscow has claimed the missiles reportedly used in Friday's railway station attack are no longer in service with the Russian Armed Forces.

The Kremlin says the Tochka-U missile systems have been replaced by the more advanced 9K720 Iskander and 3m-54-Kalibr systems.

However, some military experts, including the Eastern Europe-based Conflict Intelligence Team, believe that Russia began re-deploying Tochka-U in March, after it began running out of the more advanced rockets.

In March, a Belarus-based analyst posted a video, purportedly filmed near Gomel, Belarus, where Russian forces were deployed at the time, claiming to show a convoy that included "at least 8 Tochka-U, several BTR-82a, about 9 KamAZ trucks, some of which are carrying Tochka-U missiles, communication vehicle and a crane."

The video could not be independently verified by Newsweek.

Russia Denies Station Attack on Civilians— 'Absolutely Untrue'

Russia has denied that it has been targeting civilians and said that the missiles used in the attack on the train station are not used by Russian forces.

"All statements by representatives of the Kyiv nationalist regime about the 'rocket attack' allegedly carried out by Russia on April 8 at the railway station in the city of Kramatorsk are a provocation and are absolutely untrue," the Russian defense ministry said in a Friday statement.

"We emphasize that Tochka-U tactical missiles, fragments of which were found near the Kramatorsk railway station and published by eyewitnesses, are used only by the Ukrainian armed forces," it added.