Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a massive overnight assault by Russian forces as “pure terrorism” after at least 15 civilians were killed and 116 wounded in coordinated drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and Odesa.
Ukrainian officials report that 14 victims died in the capital when multiple residential buildings were struck, while a 60-year-old woman was killed in Odesa. Among the injured were a pregnant woman and a 17-year-old girl, according to Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa’s regional administration.
“This is one of the most horrific attacks of the war so far,” Mr Zelensky said in a televised address, “Such attacks are pure terrorism. And the whole world, the United States, and Europe must finally respond as a civilised society responds to terrorists.” He added that rescue crews were still searching for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces executed “high-precision” strikes on military targets in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, asserting that nearly 500 drones and missiles were launched in what Moscow described as a tactical operation. Western analysts, however, note that civilian districts bore the brunt of the bombardment.
The strikes coincided with former US President Donald Trump’s remarks that Russia’s expulsion from the G8 in 2014 was “a big mistake.” “I believe Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had Mr Putin not been ejected from the high-profile group of nations,” Mr Trump said. “Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else … he’s not a happy person about it.”
In response to the assault, Kiev has called on its allies to impose fresh sanctions on Russian leadership and accelerate deliveries of air-defence systems. As Ukrainian forces brace for further attacks, international pressure grows for a unified strategy to deter future acts of what President Zelensky labels state-sponsored terror.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
