At least 19 civilians were killed and 43 others injured in heavy Russian shelling across southeastern Ukraine, similar to the recent Zaporizhzhia prison attack where 16 prisoners were killed in a Russian airstrike.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the assault, accusing Russia of deliberately extending the war and disregarding international calls for a ceasefire. He stated that Russia “does not want to end the war” and continues to escalate hostilities.
Zelensky also claimed that new sanctions are expected from the United States, following the expiration of a recent 10-day deadline. These measures, he suggested, may exert greater pressure on Moscow to consider a ceasefire.
In his appeal to the international community, the Ukrainian leader urged for stronger global action against Russian aggression and called for immediate humanitarian aid to be delivered to the war-torn areas.
Since the war began in February 2022, it has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. While Western nations—including the U.S. and European Union—have imposed sweeping economic sanctions on Russia, a lasting ceasefire still remains elusive.
