Zelenskyy warns Russia preparing another large-scale attack, says he is returning to Ukraine immediately

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday warned that Russia was preparing another large-scale strike against Ukraine, citing intelligence reports and urged citizens to immediately respond to air raid alerts.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Zelenskyy said he and his delegation would cut short the visit and return to Ukraine.

"We have very troubling information today that Russia is preparing another massive attack. We have intelligence indicating this," Zelenskyy said.

He called on Ukrainians to take every air raid warning seriously and seek shelter when sirens sound, adding that Ukraine's air defence forces and security services had already been instructed to prepare for the potential attack.

According to Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to reject efforts to end the war, making it necessary to increase pressure on Moscow until peace becomes its only option.

His remarks came after Russian forces launched ballistic missile strikes on the Odesa region, killing two people and injuring 15, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Elsewhere, Russian guided bomb attacks on Kharkiv left at least 26 people injured and killed two others, including a 15-year-old, while a Russian drone strike on a minibus in Kherson killed one child and wounded two employees of Ukraine's State Tax Service.