The number of victims of the strike in the center of Chernihiv increased to 163

This was reported by the deputy head of the President’s Office Oleksiy Kuleba.

“Heartless shelling hit the city center. A rescue operation has been carried out. In total, 156 individuals were hurt, with 41 of them currently in hospitals. All necessary assistance is being provided to everyone affected. Tragically, seven people lost their lives. We extend our condolences to the affected families,” the message says. 

As of the evening of August 20, the explosion had caused damage to 66 residential buildings, 10 administrative structures, and 67 vehicles.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has shared the latest update.

According to him, at 6:43 p.m., search and rescue operations in Chernihiv were completed. A total of 136 people were hurt as a result of the Russian strike on the city center - 7 killed and 129 wounded, including 15 children and 15 police officers.

Earlier in the day, Oleksiy Kuleba, deputy head of the Presidential Office, shared the latest update.

"Chernihiv. Saturday. A missile attack on the city center. Seven dead, 119 wounded. Another crime of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for each death of every Ukrainian," he wrote.

According to Kuleba, the liquidation of the consequences is underway at the scene - an operational headquarters has been deployed. Commissions are working there to record the damage. The victims are being provided with assistance. 

New video was published on a Ukrainian Telegram channel showing the moment of a Russian missile hit.

The acting mayor of Chernihiv Oleksandr Lomako says the number of people known to have been injured and killed in this morning’s Russian missile strike on the city has increased to 117.

"As of 3:25 p.m., 117 people were hurt in the terrorist attack on the center of Chernihiv, 7 of them died," the statement said.

Lomako later added that a three-day mourning period was declared in Chernihiv from August 19 to 21 due to the Russian terrorist attack.

According to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, at 2:17 p.m., the death toll from the Russian attack increased to 7 people - rescuers found the body of another woman.

This was reported by Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. 

According to him, at 2:17 p.m., the death toll from the Russian attack increased to 7 people - rescuers found the body of another woman.

At the same time, 90 injured people sought medical assistance, including 12 children and 10 police officers. Twenty-five people were hospitalized. In addition, a 12-year-old girl is being urgently transported to Kyiv by ambulance. The child is in serious condition. 

Interior Minister Klymenko also added that a fire broke out on the roof of one of the buildings. Rescuers quickly extinguished the fire. 20 investigative teams of Chernihiv police and 2 forensic laboratories are working at the scene.

As of 1:30 p.m., according to preliminary data, 6 people were killed in the Russian attack on Chernihiv. A 6-year-old girl's heart stopped in the hospital. According to Klymenko, her mother is in extremely serious condition.

"The girl who died is the sixth victim, she was six years old. The patrol policemen tried to provide first aid, applied a tourniquet, there was a very large blood loss. Unfortunately, doctors could not save her," said the Interior Minister.

Also, 36 people were injured and taken to hospitals. Among the injured are police officers and court security officers.

"These are all civilians who were either on the central square of Chernihiv or leaving the nearby church after the consecration of fruit," explained the Interior Minister.

He noted that the Russian missile hit the theater on the city's central square. The shock wave damaged the roofs of five-story buildings.

Earlier Klymenko confirmed that the Russian missile attack hit the Drama Theater in the center of Chernihiv. As of 1 p.m., there are 5 dead and 42 injured.

This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"This is what a neighborhood with a terrorist state is, this is what we unite the whole world against. A Russian missile hit right in the center of the city, in our Chernihiv. A square, the polytechnic university, a theater. An ordinary Saturday, which Russia turned into a day of pain and loss. There are dead, there are wounded. My condolences to those who lost loved ones! All services are on the site. Rescuers, police, doctors. Everyone who is needed. Let's do even more to consolidate the world against Russian terror. Let's give even more to our state to protect life. Russia must lose this war for life to win," the president wrote.

According to him, there are dead and wounded as a result of the Russian strike.

The video from the scene released by the president shows the building of the Chernihiv Regional Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater named after Taras Shevchenko and smashed cars on Red (Theater) Square.

Earlier, the head of Chernihiv military administration Vyacheslav Chaus informed about this.

"The enemy attacked the center of Chernihiv. Probably, a ballistic missile," he said at 11:41 a.m.

Chaus asked Chernihiv residents to stay in shelters.

According to Suspilne Chernihiv, there are wounded and dead people at the site of the strike.

The alert in the city of Chernihiv and Chernihiv region was announced at 11:20 a.m.. It still continues.

The news is being updated.