A Russian missile struck a theatre in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, on Saturday morning, killing seven people, including a six-year-old girl.

Police said 144 people were wounded, including 15 children. The number of people in hospitals was at least 25.

An Orthodox Christian holiday was being celebrated at church when the victims were killed.

As a result of the attack, a main square and a university building were also damaged.

In response to a “terrorist attack”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised a firm response from Ukrainian soldiers.

Chernihiv lies about 50km (30 miles) south of Ukraine’s border with Belarus. President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, which was accompanied by a besiegement by Russian troops.

An imposing theatre in the city was directly damaged. The roofs of neighbouring buildings were blown off, and one caught fire 100 metres away.

A gathering of drone manufacturers was being held at the theater, according to the acting mayor of Chernihiv

As far as I understand, their target was a military event taking place in the theater,” Oleksandr Lomako said.

However, it is evident that the Russians launching those missiles and those giving them orders in the middle of the day realized that the majority of victims would be civilians.

There can be no other interpretation of this incident than a war crime against civilians, another Russian atrocity.

All those inside the theatre reached shelter in time, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.

As well as returning from a church, many of the victims were in their vehicles or crossing the road at the time of the rocket strike.

Chernihiv’s city center is a popular place for people to stroll around on weekends, locals say

Across the street from the theater, Anna Zahreba, manager of a Crimean Tatar restaurant, said her staff was getting ready for a busy day when the missile struck.