Update: Death toll in Sloviansk missile attack rises to 5

The death toll following the Russian missile strike on Sloviansk has risen to five, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported on April 14.

As of 6:00 p.m. local time, five people have been killed and 15 people have been injured. Seven people, including a child, are possibly still trapped under the rubble, according to Kyrylenko.

Rescue measures are ongoing and the casualty figures are subject to change.

Kyrylenko originally reported that one person had been killed and five injured after several strikes launched by Russian forces against Sloviansk.

According to preliminary data, Russian forces launched S-300 missiles at Sloviansk at 4:00 p.m. local time. The repurposed air defense missiles are known for their inaccuracy and have become Russia's weapon of choice for attacks on cities at this range.

The strikes targeted residential areas of Sloviansk, causing damage to high-rise apartment buildings, private homes, businesses, and cars.

Responding to the attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "For every act of terrorism, there will be fair accountability. We will not leave any trace of Russia on our land. And we will not leave any enemy unpunished."

How repurposed Russian air defense missiles expose holes in Ukraine’s sky

Russia’s missile strike on Jan. 14 caught Kyiv residents off-guard. After nearly a year of Moscow’s repeated attacks, something unusual happened: The explosions sounded before the air raid alert went off, which is rarely the case in what is believed to be the most protected city in Ukraine.

Kyiv IndependentStanislav Storozhenko