Zelenskyy: each strike is part of Russia’s deliberate strategy - strong int’l response needed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday condemned a large-scale overnight attack by Russia, calling each strike part of a deliberate strategy to terrorise civilians and destroy infrastructure - and urged a firmer international response.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched some 40 rockets and about 580 drones against Ukraine last night, with a range of regions and civilian targets hit.

“The enemy targeted our infrastructure, residential areas and civilian businesses,” Zelenskyy said. He reported strikes and damage in Dnipropetrovsk and its surrounding region, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia and Poltava, as well as in Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. In Dnipropetrovsk, he said, a rocket containing cluster munitions struck a multi-storey residential building.

The President said the bombardment left dozens injured and three people dead.

“Each such strike is part of Russia’s targeted strategy to intimidate the peaceful population and destroy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said. “That is precisely why a strong international response is necessary. Ukraine has proven it can defend itself and Europe - but to create a reliable shield we must act together: strengthen air defences, increase weapons supplies and broaden sanctions against Russia’s military machine and its financing sectors”.