Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said a Russian missile strike on Kyiv destroyed dozens of apartments in a residential building, leaving civilians dead and injured while rescue teams continued searching through the rubble.
According to the president, one of the hardest-hit locations was a nine-story apartment block where the impact of a single missile destroyed 64 apartments, causing extensive structural damage.
Casualties Confirmed as Rescue Operations Continue
Emergency responders remained at the scene carrying out debris removal and search-and-rescue operations following the attack.
Zelenskyy said all relevant emergency services had been deployed to the affected area. As of his latest update, authorities had confirmed three fatalities, while 17 people had been rescued from the damaged building.
The Ukrainian leader extended his condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.
More Than 130 Buildings Damaged Across Kyiv
Beyond the destruction at the apartment complex, Zelenskyy said the wider missile assault caused damage to more than 130 buildings throughout the Ukrainian capital.
He accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian neighbourhoods and peaceful residents, describing the latest strike as another attack directed at ordinary people rather than military objectives.
President Calls for Greater Pressure on Russia
Responding to the attack, Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s international partners to increase pressure on Russia and take stronger action to halt the ongoing aggression.
He warned against allowing continued attacks on civilians and said the international community should respond with concrete measures rather than remaining passive while lives continue to be lost.
Air Defence Remains a Top Priority
The Ukrainian president emphasized that strengthening the country’s air defence capabilities remains essential to protecting cities from future missile strikes.
He called for additional international contributions to the PURL programme and expanded cooperation aimed at improving Ukraine’s anti-ballistic defence systems, saying enhanced protection would help safeguard civilians from further attacks.
Ukraine Thanks International Partners for Continued Assistance
Zelenskyy concluded by expressing appreciation to countries that continue providing military and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
He said sustained international assistance is critical to ensuring Russia cannot continue carrying out attacks against Ukrainian civilians and stressed that ongoing cooperation remains vital to the country’s defence efforts.
