KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on world leaders to intensify pressure on Russia following a deadly missile strike that hit a residential building in Kyiv, killing 28 people and injuring over 140 others.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy visited the Solomianskyi district where a missile collapsed a nine-story apartment building. He laid flowers and honored the 23 people who died in that single building, calling the strike a grim reminder of Russia’s ongoing rejection of peace efforts.
“This attack shows Russia’s choice for destruction instead of ceasefire,” Zelenskyy stated on Telegram. He thanked international partners willing to pressure Moscow to face the true consequences of the war, which has now entered its fourth year.
The strike on Tuesday was part of one of the largest aerial offensives since the war began. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched over 440 drones and 32 missiles to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses during the night-long assault.
Despite recent U.S.-led efforts for a 30-day ceasefire, Russia has reportedly declined the offer. President Vladimir Putin conditioned any halt in attacks on Ukraine freezing its military mobilization and ending Western arms intake—terms Ukraine and its allies firmly oppose.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Kyiv had already accepted the U.S. ceasefire proposal unconditionally. “It’s been 100 days of Russia ignoring peace and escalating violence,” he said, urging the world not to be distracted by other global conflicts.