A devastating Russian attack has rocked the city of Kostyantynivka, located in eastern Ukraine, leaving at least 17 people dead, as reported by the Ukrainian Interior Minister.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as an act of "brazen evil" perpetrated by Russia and expressed his deep outrage over the incident.

The attack targeted a local market, shops, and a pharmacy in the heart of Kostyantynivka, according to initial reports. Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that, in addition to the fatalities, at least 32 people were injured.

President Zelensky, visibly dismayed, vehemently denounced the Russian aggression and asserted that the international community cannot remain silent in the face of such atrocity. "This is brazen evil," declared Zelensky.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal warned of the need for "just retribution for all" and pledged that Ukraine would take strong measures in response to the attack.

According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), from the outset of the large-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine in February 2022 until August 2023, more than 9,500 civilians have been killed, and over 17,200 have been injured in the conflict.

These figures include individuals affected both in areas controlled by Ukraine and in territories under the control of Russia-backed forces.

OHCHR warns that the actual casualty figures could be even higher as many victim reports are pending verification. The conflict in Ukraine remains a serious humanitarian crisis that requires immediate attention.

With information from the BBC.