The Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday rejected the claims of the American edition of the New York Times, according to which the strike that killed 16 people in Kostyantynivka (east of the country) in early September was a “tragic incident” caused by the deflection of a Ukrainian missile, and not the result of a Russian attack.

War in Ukraine: Rocket attack on the city of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk regionPhoto: press service of the President of Ukraine / UPI / Profimedia

“According to the investigation, the (Russian) enemy struck a civilian settlement using the S-300 missile system,” the SBU said in a statement, referring to the ground attack. a system often used by Russia against the neighboring country, France-Presse and Agerpres reported.

The hypothesis about a Russian missile is confirmed by “missile debris” found at the scene of the tragedy, the SBU said on Tuesday.

The investigation “continues” and “a new examination is planned to establish all the circumstances of this war crime,” he adds.

In an investigation published on Monday, the New York Times, citing “eyewitnesses, analysis of video surveillance footage,” wrote that the strike that struck the square in Kostyantynivka on September 6 was caused by a Ukrainian missile that deviated from its trajectory. and projectile fragments.

According to the NYT, it is a missile fired by the Ukrainian army using the BUK mobile anti-aircraft system in the direction of territories controlled by Russia. The Ukrainian and Russian armed forces use Soviet-made BUK and S-300 systems.

Why the rocket fell in Kostyantynivka is still unknown, but “perhaps it malfunctioned and disintegrated without hitting the target,” the American publication also writes.

In this case, “the truth will be established by legal means”, in turn, assured the advisor of the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podolyak, on Tuesday, platform X (formerly Twitter).

“Meanwhile, we must not forget that it was Russia that began the invasion of Ukraine” in February 2022, and it is Russia that carries out “regular massive strikes with missiles, bombs and drones on some civilian infrastructures,” Podolyak emphasized.

The Russian army now occupies about 18% of the territory of Ukraine, in the south and east. According to local authorities, new Russian bombings killed at least 9 civilians in several regions of Ukraine on Tuesday.

  • Read also: VIDEO Russian missile attack on the city center in Donetsk region: at least 17 dead, including a child

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