Russian forces fire on evacuees, leaving 3 people dead outside Kyiv.

[Nevilledog]

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/world/europe/ukraine-irpin-civilian-death.html

No paywall
https://archive.ph/HDGgs

IRPIN, Ukraine — A Russian force advancing on Kyiv fired mortar shells on Sunday at a battered bridge used by evacuees fleeing the fighting, sending panicked civilians running, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaving three members of a family dead on the pavement.

Crowds of hundreds have clustered around the damaged bridge over the Irpin River since Saturday. Ukrainian forces had blown up the bridge earlier to slow the Russian advance. Only a dozen or so Ukrainian soldiers were in the immediate area of the bridge on Sunday, not fighting but helping carry civilians’ luggage and children.

To cross a hundred yards or so of exposed street on the side of the bridge closer to Kyiv, people seeking to flee to the capital formed small groups and made a run for it together. Soldiers ran out, picked up children or luggage, and ran for cover behind a cinder block wall.

The mortar shells fell first 100 or so yards from the bridge, then shifted in a series of thunderous blasts into a section of street where people were fleeing.

As the mortars got closer to the stream of civilians, people ran, pulling children, trying to find a safe spot. But there was nothing to hide behind. A shell landed in the street, sending up a cloud of concrete dust and leaving one family — a mother, a father, a teenage son and a daughter who appeared about 8 years old — sprawled on the ground.

*snip*

[SheltieLover]

1. Why else would poot have agreed to cease fire?

Last edited Sun Mar 6, 2022, 03:25 PM - Edit history (1)

[Igel]

2. Yesterday the news was a bit different.

The Russia state media published a picture of this bridge with people evacuating.

The media said it was a Russian-aided group of people fleeing Mariupol, the Russians suppressing Ukrainian fire which would keep them from fleeing.

Most Soviet-era propaganda wasn't that uncoupled from reality.

[SheltieLover]

3. So now putin is trying to convince his people that Ukraine is attacking itself?

Um, no. Just no.