Zelenskyy says Russian strikes show Moscow has no intention of ending war

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said that continued Russian attacks demonstrate that Russia is not seeking to end the war, warning that any easing of pressure on Moscow would be dangerous.

His comments came after a large-scale overnight drone attack on the southern city of Odesa on 28 March, during which more than 60 attack drones were launched.

Zelenskyy said the strike caused fatalities, injuries and extensive damage, stressing that it had no military purpose and was instead aimed at civilians.

According to the President, the attack damaged a range of civilian facilities, including a maternity hospital, residential buildings, businesses, port infrastructure and other critical sites. Emergency services remain operational and continue to assist those affected.

Authorities confirmed that at least two people were killed, while more than ten others were injured, including a child.

In Odesa’s Primorsky district, a maternity hospital sustained damage to its roof. Preliminary reports indicate that staff and patients were able to reach shelter in time, preventing more serious casualties. Elsewhere, parts of a multi-storey residential building were destroyed between the fourth and fifth floors, while the blast wave shattered windows in surrounding buildings and fires broke out in private homes.

Overnight strikes were also reported in the Poltava Oblast and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast regions.

Zelenskyy said each such attack underlines Russia’s unwillingness to end the war. He added that coordinated international efforts are essential to strengthen Ukraine’s defence and diplomacy, and to protect lives and infrastructure, thanking partners for their continued support.