Children killed by missiles

THREE children were among seven civilians killed by a Russian missile attack on a town in southern Ukraine.

- Frances Millar

Officials published photos of picnic blankets covering bodies in a park in Vilniansk, with craters in blackened earth next to the charred remains of a building.

At least 36 people were wounded and authorities declared a day of mourning yesterday. Vilniansk is in the Zaporizhzhia region, north of the front line of the two-year war, and Russian forces occupy part of the province.

Local governor Ivan Fedorov said the strike damaged homes, a shop and "critical infrastructure" in Vilniansk, which had a population of around 14,300 prior to Russia's invasion.