'Massive' Russian attack on Ukraine kills 16, injures at least 100, Ukrainian officials say
LONDON -- At least 16 people were killed and another 100 were injured in Ukraine as Russia targeted the country with a "massive" drone and missile attack on Wednesday and into Thursday morning, Ukrainian officials said.
Russia launched almost 700 drones and 19 ballistic missiles, along with cruise missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Ukraine shot down about 636 drones and "some" of the missiles, he added, saying, "Unfortunately, not all."
At least 16 people were killed across Ukraine, officials said. Zelenskyy said at least 100 people had been reported wounded "as of now."
"Tragically, there are fatalities in Odesa, Kyiv, and Dnipro," he said in a social media post. "Among those killed is a boy -- he was 12 years old. My condolences to the families and loved ones."
Most of the missiles targeted Kyiv, the capital, the president said, but damage and deaths were also reported across the country. Some missiles or drones that made it through Ukraine's defenses struck and damaged residential buildings, Zelenskyy said.
"Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions," Zelenskyy said. "Russia is betting on war, and the response must be exactly that: we must defend lives with all available means, and we must also apply pressure for the sake of peace with the same full force."
Russia has chosen to "deliberately terrorise civilians" with its attacks on residential areas, Antonio Costa, the European Council president, said on Thursday. The EU would continue to "increase pressure" on Moscow, he said.
"Russia must stop this war of terror," Costa said. "A comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine based on the principles of the U.N. Charter and international law must be achieved."
Russian officials said on Thursday that Ukraine launched its own barrage of drones targeting several areas in Russia. Moscow said its military downed more than 200 drones. At least one Ukrainian drone struck a port on Russia's Black Sea coast, along with other coastal cities, the local governor said.
