 "'America's silence encourages Putin:' Zelenskyy blasts US after Russian assault that killed 12")
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has slammed the international community following Russia’s massive overnight aerial assault on the country.
Zelenskyy criticised the US, saying America’s silence was encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“America’s silence, and the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin,” Zelensky said in a social media post after the overnight attacks, which killed at least 12 people.
In his post, Zelenskyy also asked the international community to impose tougher sanctions on Russia.
“Each such terrorist attack by Russia is a sufficient reason for new sanctions,” he said.
“Determination matters now — the determination of the United States, the determination of European countries, and all those in the world who want peace.”
Massive overnight attack on Ukraine
Ukraine was heavily attacked overnight, with Russia launching 298 drones and 69 missiles in a coordinated strike. Ukrainian officials reported that 12 civilians, including three children, were killed, and 38 were injured.
The previous night’s assault involved 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles, injuring at least 15 people.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa stated that the three children killed were siblings from the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv: Stanislav (8), Tamara (12), and Roman (17).
Kyiv and 11 other regions were hit. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko described it as a “massive” attack and urged people to find shelter.
“My deepest condolences to the family of the children,” Betsa said on social media.
In Mykolaiv, a residential building was struck, while in Odesa, emergency crews were seen extinguishing fires and rescuing people from the wreckage.
“Explosions in the city. Air defence forces are working. The capital is under attack by enemy UAVs. Do not neglect your safety! Stay in shelters!” he warned.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsEU’s response
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas called for “the strongest international pressure” on Russia in response to the attack.
“Russia is bent on more suffering and the annihilation of Ukraine,” she posted on X.
“Devastating to see children among innocent victims.”
Ukraine and Russia also completed the largest prisoner exchange of the war, with over 1,000 soldiers returned to their respective countries, including 303 from each side in the latest exchange.
President Zelensky shared pictures of freed Ukrainian soldiers and thanked everyone involved in securing their release.
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