Zelensky called on foreign partners to respond to the brutal strikes on Ukraine, from which the international community's attention has been diverted by the war in Iran.
At least seven people were killed, including two children, and 10 others were injured on Saturday when a Russian missile struck a five-storey apartment block in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. This was reported by local authorities, who said it was a direct hit by a ballistic missile.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack and called for an international response. He said Russia had used 29 missiles and 480 drones in strikes on Ukraine overnight, targeting energy facilities in Kiev and central parts of the country.
According to preliminary data, Ukranian air defence systems shot down 19 missiles and 453 drones, with nine missiles and 26 attack drones recorded hitting 22 locations.
Another person was killed in the eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, while three were wounded in the capital Kyiv, local authorities said.
In the Sumy region bordering Russia, a 24-year-old man died in his car when it was hit by a Russian drone, according to local officials.
In the Kiev region, rocket and drone debris damage was recorded in three districts, according to local authorities. In the southern Odessa region, 80 firefighters were called in to fight major fires at infrastructure facilities after a multi-drone attack. Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said damage to railway infrastructure had led to changes to a number of routes in the central-western part of the country.
"Partners must respond to these cruel blows to life", Zelensky wrote in a post on platform X. - Russia has not given up its attempts to destroy Ukraine's residential and critical infrastructure, so support must continue. We look forward to working actively with the European Union to provide greater protection for our people. I am grateful to everyone who is helping to strengthen our defences."
Since invading Ukraine four years ago, Russia has fired tens of thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones into its territory.
In response to joint US-Israeli strikes, Iran has launched similar drones at Middle Eastern countries.
Zelensky said he had received a request from the US for support in defence against Iranian drones in the Middle East and ordered the provision of equipment and Ukrainian specialists.
The war in the Middle East has diverted international attention from Europe's biggest conflict since World War II and forced the postponement of a new round of US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine scheduled for this week.