THE US citizen killed by Russian snipers while waiting in a bread line in Chernihiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday has been identified as James Jimmy Hill.
Cheryl Hill Gordon, the victim’s sister, said her brother’s body was “found in the street by local police.”
According to Gordon, Hill was living in Chernihiv since December to help care for his partner, Irina, a Ukrainian citizen, who was receiving a life-extending MS treatment.
“My brother Jimmy Hill was killed yesterday in Chernihiv, Ukraine. He was waiting in a bread line with several other people when they were gunned down by Russian military snippers [SIC].
“His body was found in the street by the local police,” Gordon added.
On Tuesday, Local News 8 reported that Hill was trapped in a Chernihiv regional hospital 90 miles outside Kyiv, Ukraine.
A friend, Karin Moseley, told the outlet that Hill had been “thrust into literally the middle of hell” after traveling to Ukraine in December.
“It’s horribly sad hanging on to a hope and a thread and a dream and getting to the hospital. That gives you a little bit of extra hope and then being thrust into literally the middle of hell.
“I have no reason to believe he’s safe at all. And if he survives the bombing, how long can they go without what they need as far as food and water and heat,” Moseley added.
At least 10 people were killed in Wednesday’s attack as horror footage showed bodies lying on the ground.
A reporter for Ukrainian publication Suspilne on the ground in Chernihiv first shared the video online.
It wrote: “In Chernihiv, in one of the city’s dormitories, Russian troops fired on people standing in line for bread.
“This was reported by the correspondent of Public from the scene.
“According to her, the shelling took place on March 16 around 10am. The shelling killed at least 10 civilians.”
The US Embassy in Kyiv has also reported on the alleged massacre.
“Today, Russian forces shot and killed 10 people standing in line for bread in Chernihiv,” it tweeted.
“Such horrific attacks must stop. We are considering all available options to ensure accountability for any atrocity crimes in Ukraine.”
Russia’s Ministry of Defense on Wednesday evening brazenly denied any involvement in the attack in Chernihiv.
It claimed there were no Russian servicemen in the city and that any civilians killed were victims of “Ukrainian nationalists”.
The agency also said videos may have been faked.
The State Department confirmed another American citizen was killed on Thursday in a second Russian shelling attack on unarmed people.
According to Chernihiv officials, Russian forces carried out a second heavy artillery attack on civilians in the city on Thursday.
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“The occupiers once again attacked with heavy artillery on unarmed civilians of the city. There are dead and wounded. Among the dead – a US citizen,” Chernihiv Region Police said on Thursday.
Local officials said police were helping to evacuate affected citizens to medical facilities following the attack.
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