KRAMATORSK: Ukrainians in the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Saturday laid flowers at a small memorial at the central train station one year after Russian missiles hit the transport hub, killing dozens.

The strikes on April 8 last year killed 61 people and injured more than 160 in one of the single deadliest attacks of the war, which targeted civilians fleeing Russia`s advance.

`What is there to say? My close friend and her daughter and their dog died.

What more can be said?` 67-year-old TetianaSyshchenkosaid,tearingup.She said she herself narrowly avoided being killed in the blast. A slow trickle of residents approached a small plaque topped with flowers and children`s toys at the station. They crossed themselves, standing or kneeling silently or crying.

Some 4,000 civilians had gathered lastApril to board evacuation trains when the station was struck by a Tochka-U missile, which experts said was armed with cluster munitions.

One missile fragment was inscribed by Russian forces with the words: `For our children`. Arriving at the station minutes after the strike, journalists saw at least30bodiesinbags.

The blood-soaked pavement was strewn with abandoned suitcases, children`s possessions and food. The Kremlin has denied responsibility and said Russian forces do not target civilians, describing the incident as a `provocation`.

Sergiy Kupochka, a 57-year-old municipal worker, recounted to AFP at the station that his colleagues were distributing food and water to evacuees at the time of the attack. `One of our employees died here,` he said, adding that even one year on, `Pm in pain`.-AFP