Ukraine’s Independence Day was marked by a missile strike at ‘The Chaplyne’ train station in the Eastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing 25 people
Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, were marked by a missile strike at ‘The Chaplyne’ train station in the Eastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which killed at least 25 people and wounded 50 people.
The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also warned of a possible attack. The Government had also banned the Independence Day celebrations owing to the Russian threat of new missile attacks on major cities. The authorities had also banned large-scale gatherings until today, i.e., Thursday, August 25, 2022.
Speaking on the occasion, Zelenskyy said, “Chaplyne is our pain today. As of this moment, there are 22 dead, five of them burned in the car. A teenager died, he was 11 years old, a Russian rocket destroyed his house.”
A Statement from the Ministry of Defence, Ukraine read, “As a result of a direct hit by an Iskander missile on a military train at the Chaplyne railway station in the Dnipropetrovsk region, more than 200 servicemen of the reserve of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and 10 units of military equipment were destroyed, on their way to combat zones in the Donbas,” its defence ministry said in a statement.”
Separately, the outgoing Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (U.K.) – Boris Johnson also met Zelenskyy in Kyiv. He announced a U.S. $ 66 million aid package for Ukraine. Johnson announced to provide Ukraine with mine-hunting vehicles and drones worth £ 54 million (U.S. $ 63.5 million). As of now, the U.K. has given more than £ 2.3 billion (U.S. $ 2.71 billion) into military and financial aid to Ukraine since the invasion began.
Taking it to twitter, Johnson tweeted,
What happens in Ukraine matters to us all.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 24, 2022
That is why I am in Kyiv today.
That is why the UK will continue to stand with our Ukrainian friends.
I believe Ukraine can and will win this war. pic.twitter.com/FIovnqJGTS
Johnson has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine. This was his 3rd visit to Ukraine post Russia’s invasion. He travelled to Ukraine in April and June 2022. This was his last trip to Ukraine as the Prime Minister of the U.K.
Johnson has forged a close relationship with Zelensky, who said he was sad to see Johnson leave office when the ruling Conservative Party forced him to resign. Zelensky presented Johnson with a parting gift, awarding him the Order of Liberty for “the work that Boris has been doing for our country and all of Europe.”
