Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that the Kremlin must halt its strikes “immediately and unconditionally,” after Russian forces launched a deadly missile and drone barrage at the capital Kyiv early in the morning on April 24.
“It has been 44 days since Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and a halt to strikes... And it has been 44 days of Russia continuing to kill our people,” he said in a post on social media. “The strikes must be stopped immediately and unconditionally.”
He said around 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and nearly 150 drones have been launched at Ukraine. At least 80 people have been injured and eight killed in Kyiv. Rescue crews are still working to clear rubble from damaged buildings.
“Russia continues to kill people while avoiding pressure and responsibility.”
Zelensky added that he will be cutting short a visit to South Africa on Thursday to urgently return to Kyiv.
“I am cancelling part of the program for this visit and will return to Ukraine immediately after the meeting with the president of South Africa,” Zelensky, who arrived in the country hours earlier, said on social media.
Before leaving, Zelensky plans to brief South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who chairs the G20, on the latest attack and the need for stronger global support.
“Stopping strikes is necessary immediately and unconditionally,” he said.
Ukraine’s foreign minister will meanwhile stay in South Africa to meet with leaders.
The massive combined Russian missile and drone strike targeted Kyiv and its surrounding region early in the morning on Thursday, as well as the Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Kyiv was hit the hardest, with emergency crews deployed to 13 locations in the capital.