Rocket strike in the Dnieper: Advisor to the President of Ukraine resigned

Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, resigned on Tuesday after a public outcry caused by his comment about a missile attack on a residential building in Dnipro that claimed at least 44 lives.

He suggested that the Russian missile could have been shot down by Ukrainian air defense and after that fell on a houseadding that a thorough investigation is needed. Hours after the missile attack, Arestovich, who regularly appears on YouTube to share the latest news about the war, initially said that a Russian missile apparently hit the building after being shot down by Ukrainian air defenses.

The comment provoked general anger in Ukraine and a corresponding reaction in Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian shelling “does not hit residential buildings” and suggested that the strike was carried out by the Ukrainian air defense system. According to him, “some representatives of the Ukrainian side” also came to this conclusion.

Later, Arestovich, citing fatigue, apologized for the hasty version of what happened, but stressed that he had made it clear that he was only voicing a preliminary, one of the possible versions.

Tuesday morning reports ReutersArestovich posted a photo of his resignation letter, admitting he made a “fundamental mistake” in the message:

“I sincerely apologize to the victims and their relatives, the residents of Dnipro and everyone who was deeply hurt by my premature erroneous version about the reason for the Russian missile hitting a residential building.”

Later it became known that in the Office of the President granted the request Aleksey Arestovich about his dismissal from the position of a freelance adviser, the press secretary of the president, Sergei Nikiforov, announced this in a commentary to the UP. According to him, Maria Vitushok, head of the staff of the Office of the President of Ukraine, signed a corresponding order to dismiss Arestovich.

Head of the National Police Igor Klymenko on Facebook reported the latest data on the victims in Dnipro:

“39 people were rescued, including 6 children, 44 people were killed, including 5 children, 79 people were injured, including 16 children, 47 reports of missing persons were received, of which 23 people were found dead, 4 people were found alive with relatives , in hospitals. Four of the 20 missing are children. 15 bodies of the dead have not been identified.”

487 victims turned to the police with statements. Five children were left orphans. Over three, guardianship is issued by relatives. Two children are now under the care of the state, because they do not have relatives who could take care of them.

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