Zelenskyy: most important thing is not sympathy, but air defence missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for increased deliveries of air defence missiles following a Russian strike that killed multiple members of the same family in Radushne, near Kryvyi Rih.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia launched a North Korean-made ballistic missile during the overnight attack on Thursday, marking the first reported use of such a missile against the area in a long time. He said experts are still examining the evidence, but preliminary information indicates the weapon was of North Korean origin.

“The alliance between the Moscow regime and North Korea’s regime is bringing missiles to Europe and sending North Korean personnel to our borders while Ukrainian children are being killed,” Zelenskyy said.

The President noted many countries had condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims. He also referred to reports that a Russian missile had violated Polish airspace before landing in a field near Lublin.

“However, the most important thing is not simply sympathy and condemnation, but air defence missiles and the kind of pressure on Russia that can stop this senseless war, its strikes and terror,” Zelenskyy said.

He stressed that Ukraine’s priority remains securing additional air defence interceptors and systems, including Patriot, NASAMS, IRIS-T and HAWK.

The strike on Radushne claimed the lives of several members of the Voronov family. According to local media, those killed included 47-year-old Artem Voronov, his 41-year-old wife Olena, three of their children and their one-and-a-half-year-old grandchild. The couple had seven children in total. Two of the eldest live abroad, while another is serving in the military.

A day of mourning has been declared in Kryvyi Rih on Friday.

Later, Zelenskyy shared a photograph of the Voronov family, saying it should be seen by decision-makers at the Pentagon, in European capitals and around the world.