Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for new sanctions against Russia after a massive overnight air assault killed at least 12 people, including three children.
In a message posted Sunday on Telegram, Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin must be pressured to end the war.
“Every Russian attack is a reason for new sanctions,” Zelensky said. “Putin should be forced to think not about missile launches, but about ending the war.”
Russia launched 298 drones and 69 missiles, including ballistic missiles, at targets across Ukraine in the early hours of May 25, according to the Ukrainian military. Ukrainian air defense shot down 266 drones and 45 missiles.
Officials said it was the largest drone assault on Ukraine since the war began. The previous record was 273 drones launched on May 18.
“The world may take the weekend off, but the war doesn’t stop,” Zelensky said. “Silence from America and other countries only encourages Putin.”
Zelensky warned that without strong and united international pressure, Russia’s aggression will continue.
“Now is the time for determination – from the United States, from Europe, from all who want peace,” he said. “Russia’s economic weaknesses are well known. The war can be stopped if the right pressure is applied.”
Emergency crews responded to strikes in more than 30 towns and villages across Ukraine. Targets included the capital, Kyiv, and the regions of Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odessa, Poltava, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Cherkasy.
Zelensky said residential buildings and university dormitories were among the damaged sites.
“These were deliberate attacks on ordinary cities,” he said. “Sadly, there are casualties, including children. My condolences to their families.”