At least 14 people, including six children, were killed in a Russian ballistic missile strike on a central Ukrainian city, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The strike came as US and European leaders were pressuring Russia to cease fire in the conflict.
More than 50 people were injured in an attack in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The head of the region, Serhiy Lysak, described it as an “attack on civilians.”
“The missile hit the area near residential buildings, hit a children’s playground and ordinary streets,” Mr. Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Local authorities said the strike destroyed about 20 apartment buildings, more than 30 cars, an educational institution and a restaurant. They added that rescuers were working at the scene and psychologists were helping survivors.
Mr Zelensky attributed the daily attacks to Russia's reluctance to end the war, saying: “Every missile, every drone strike confirms that Russia is only seeking war.”
He called on Ukraine's allies to increase pressure on Moscow and strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.
“The United States, Europe and the rest of the world have enough power to force Russia to abandon terror and war,” he noted.
The missile strike came after a drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Thursday evening that killed five civilians.
Rescuers carried black bags of bodies out of the burning apartment building as witnesses cried and hugged in the darkness.
Some of the 32 wounded, bloodied and in shock, limped into the street or were carried on stretchers as flames burst from the windows of their homes.
“Now, I think it is obvious who wants peace and who wants war,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said at a NATO meeting in Brussels, referring to the attack in Kharkiv. “We must make Russia think seriously about peace. We must put pressure on Russia to agree to peace.”
Russia has effectively rejected a US offer of a full and immediate 30-day ceasefire, and the British and French foreign ministers on Friday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet on ceasefire talks aimed at stopping Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“We believe Putin continues to obfuscate and stall for time,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy told reporters at NATO headquarters.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
