US, UN deplore Russia over deadly strike on Ukraine mall

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is voicing horror at Russia’s deadly strike on a crowded mall in central Ukraine and has vowed to hold Moscow responsible.

“The world is horrified by Russia’s missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall — the latest in a string of atrocities,” Blinken writes on Twitter.

“We will continue to support our Ukrainian partners and hold Russia, including those responsible for atrocities, to account.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s office calls the attack “totally deplorable.”

Kremenchuk, the town where the missile strike occurred, had so far been spared direct hits in the conflict, Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric says at a daily press briefing.

“We once again stress that the parties are obliged under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he says.

Dmytro Lunin, the governor of the Ukrainian region where the missile attack occurred, says at least 10 people were killed and more than 40 injured in the attack, warning the toll is likely to rise.