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Zelensky said on social media: ‘the war must end’
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the US response to the drone strike on Kryvyi Rih which has killed 18 people, including nine children.
The Ukraine leader thanked many world leaders for their responses following the attack on civilians in his home town before he went on to criticise the response from the US Embassy as “surprisingly disappointing”.
“Such a strong country, such a strong people, and yet such a weak reaction. They are afraid to even say the word ‘Russian’ when speaking about the missile that murdered children”, he said on X.
“Yes, the war must end”, he added. “We must not be afraid to pressure the one who continues this war and ignores all the world’s proposals to end it.”
Regional officials said 38 people, including a three-month old baby, were in hospital and over 60 were wounded.
Zelensky’s statement comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Nato foreign ministers that they would know in a matter of weeks whether Russia is serious about peace or not.
He said: “We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are.”
Zelensky said that the missile which killed nine children in Kryvyi Rih struck an ordinary street with residential buildings.
He said: “The missile struck right at the ordinary street with residential buildings, a playground, shops, and a restaurant around.
“Sixty-two people were injured in the attack, including twelve children. Some of them are in critical condition, they are currently in the hospitals.
“Doctors are doing everything possible to save lives.”
Zelensky urged for an international response after a Russian strike hit civilians in Kryvyi Rih.
He said: “It is critically important not to leave this Russian strike on civilians, on the city – every such strike – without a response from the world. Kryvyi Rih and all of Ukraine have already been supported by many yesterday and today.
“I am grateful for the principled stance of the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Austria. I thank the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for her position and support.
“We value the principled statements made by the Embassies of Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany.”
He went on to condemn the response from the US Embassy as “surprisingly disappointing”.
“Such a strong country, such a strong people, and yet such a weak reaction. They are afraid to even say the word ‘Russian’ when speaking about the missile that murdered children.
“Yes, the war must end. But to end it, we must not be afraid to call things by their names. We must not be afraid to pressure the one who continues this war and ignores all the world’s proposals to end it.”
President Zelensky paid tribute to the nine children who died in his home town of Kryvyi Rih.
He said: “Tragically, three-year-old Tymofii died in the hospital today. Seven-year-old Radyslav. Arina, who will forever be seven as well. Nine-year-old Herman. Fifteen-year-old Danylo. Fifteen-year-old Mykyta. Fifteen-year-old Alina. Kostiantyn, who will forever be sixteen. Nikita – seventeen.
“These are the children killed by a Russian ballistic missile strike on Kryvyi Rih.
“There were only a few minutes after the missile was launched from the enemy’s Taganrog area. Unfortunately, nine adults were also killed. My condolences to all the families and loved ones.”
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s defense council has said “there can never be forgiveness” for the drone strike on Kryvyi Rih which killed 18 people, including nine children, and has injured a further 61 people.
Ukraine officials claim there is a three-month-old baby among the 61 wounded, as well as elderly residents.
They said 38 remained hospitalised, including two children in critical condition and 17 in serious condition.
Ukrainian women are taking jobs once reserved for men, who are being drafted to the front lines in the war with Russia – from driving tractors to working in coal mines.
Kateryna Koliadiuk – a 19-year-old Ukrainian agronomy student – spotted an ad seeking women to enrol in a tractor driving course and decided to try.
But the industrial vehicle was huge and complex, and she wasn’t sure she could operate it.
Read more here:
Ukrainian drones struck an explosive production facility in Russia’s Samara region overnight, causing multiple explosions and fires, a source in Ukraine’s SBU security service told Reuters on Saturday.
“The SBU continues to conduct targeted operations against Russian enterprises that are part of the military-industrial complex and produce weapons for the war against Ukraine,” the source said. “Such facilities are absolutely legitimate military targets.”
The Kryvyi Rih strike which killed 19 citizens are a “sobering reminder” of Russia’s “barbaric war”, a Foreign Office minister has said.
In a statement on Saturday, Europe minister Stephen Doughty said: “Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure are a sobering reminder that Putin continues to wage his barbaric war against Ukraine.
“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims.
“As the Prime Minister has said, Russia could choose to accept a ceasefire but instead continues to bombard Ukraine and its population.”
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