'Absolutely untrue…': Russia denies Ukraine station attack that killed over 30

Ukraine train station attack: Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia as 'an evil with no limits'.

Russia on Friday claimed it did not launch an attack on a train station in eastern Ukraine that killed at least 35 people, news agency AFP said. "All statements by representatives of the Kyiv nationalist regime about the 'rocket attack' allegedly carried out by Russia on April 8 at the railway station in Kramatorsk are a provocation and are absolutely untrue," its defence ministry said.

ldUkrainian police inspect the remains of a large rocket with the words "for our children" in Russian next to the main building of a train station in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, that was being used for civilian evacuations, that was hit by a rocket attack killing at least 35 people, on April 8, 2022. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)(AFP)

The defence ministry also said Russian forces did not have missions planned today in Kramatorsk, and that the missile that destroyed the train station - which is being used by hundreds of civilians to flee from areas being bombarded by Russia - 'are used only by Ukrainian armed forces'.

"We emphasise that Tochka-U tactical missiles, fragments of which were found near the Kramatorsk railway station and published by eyewitnesses, are used only by the Ukrainian armed forces. "

Moscow's statement was echoed by a military commander from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic - part of Ukraine's breakaway Donbas region at the centre of the war with Russia - who was quoted by Russian news agency TASS as calling the attack Ukrainian 'provocation'.

The European Union accused Russia of a 'horrifying' attack; EU council chief Charles Michel accused Russia of cutting off an escape route for civilians.

"Horrifying to see Russia strike one of the main stations used by civilians evacuating region where Russia is stepping up its attack," Michel tweeted.

"I strongly condemn this morning's indiscriminate attack...by Russia," EU foreign policy Josep Borrell said in a separate tweet.

Shortly before Ukraine's state railway agency said two Russian missiles had struck a station in Kramatorsk being used by civilians to evacuate from areas experiencing military conflict.

"According to (available) data, more than 30 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded in the rocket attack on Kramatorsk railway station," the railway agency said in its statement.

READ: Over 30 killed in Russian strike on Ukrainian station, rail company says

According to the mayor the city, Oleksander Honcharenko, there were about 4,000 people, most of them elderly, women and children, at the station when it was attacked.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia as 'an evil with no limits'.

"They are cynically destroying the civilian population. This is an evil that has no limits. And if it is not punished, it will never stop," Zelenskyy said in a statement on social media.

Three trains carrying evacuees were blocked in the same region of Ukraine on Thursday, Reuters reported, after an air strike on the line, according to the head of Ukrainian Railways.

The attacks come amid what is being seen as Russia re-organising and re-focusing its attention on the Donbas region after failing to make headway in attempts to capture Ukraine capital Kyiv. Local authorities in some areas have urged civilians to leave while it is still relatively safe to do so.

The attacks also come amid a wave of 'war crime' accusations against Russia, particularly after images showing mass graves and alleged killing of civilians in the town of Bucha, which was occupied by Russian forces till recently.

With input from AFP, Reuters