A focused humanitarian convoy was planning to journey to Russian-occupied territory to choose up kinfolk and take them to security, the regional governor of Zaporizhzhia mentioned.

A Russian missile assault on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed at the very least 23 folks and injured dozens extra, a Ukrainian official mentioned.

A Russian official blamed Ukrainian forces for the lethal strike.

Zaporizhzhia Regional Governor Oleksandr Starukh made the announcement in a web-based assertion on Friday. He mentioned there have been at the very least 28 injured when Russian forces focused a humanitarian convoy heading in the direction of Russian-occupied territory.

He posted photos of burnt-out automobiles and our bodies mendacity on the street.

“Thus far we all know of 23 lifeless and 28 injured. All civilians, native folks. Burn within the hell of the damned Russians,” Oleksandr Starukh wrote on Telegram.

Starukh mentioned the convoy members deliberate to journey to Russian-occupied territory to choose up their family members after which take them to security. He mentioned rescuers had been on the website of the assault.

It comes as Moscow prepares to annex 4 areas to Russia after an internationally criticized referendum vote as a part of its invasion of Ukraine. These areas embody areas close to Zaporizhzhia, however not the town itself, which stays in Ukrainian arms.