Russia has launched one of its most devastating cruise missile attacks in months, killing at least 19 and wounding many others.
Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv were targeted by 23 cruise missiles and two suicide drones, claiming most of the dead with a two hit double-tap on an apartment building.
Three children were among the dead in the early hours attack.
The salvos included the first one on Kyiv in nearly two months, although there were no reports of any targets hit.
It is believed the attack may be in response to reports that a major Ukrainian counter-offensive is imminent.
Officials said Ukraine ’s air force intercepted 11 cruise missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles over Kyiv.
The strikes on the nine-story residential building in central Ukraine occurred in Uman, 134 miles south of Kyiv.
At least 14 people died in that attack, according to the interior ministry, including two 10-year-olds and a toddler.
Another victim was a 75-year-old woman who lived in a neighboring building.
Ukraine’s national police said 17 people were wounded and three children were rescued from the rubble. Nine were hospitalised. Three more were killed elsewhere in Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials and analysts say the strikes are a deliberate intimidation strategy by the Kremlin.
Survivors of the Uman strikes recounted terrifying attack.
Halyna, a building resident, said she and her husband saw flames outside their window and scrambled out, but first Halyna checked whether her friend in a neighboring apartment was OK.
She said: “I was calling, calling her on the phone, but she didn’t pick up. I even rang the doorbell, but still no answer.”
She used the spare keys from her friend’s apartment, went inside and found her lying dead on her apartment floor.
Another building resident, Olha Turina, whose husband is fighting on the front lines, said one of her child’s classmates was missing.
She said: “I don’t know where they are, I don’t know if they are alive.
“I don’t know why we have to go through all this. We never bothered anyone.”
Emergency crews searched through the rubble outside for more victims, while residents dragged belongings out of the damaged building.
A 31-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter were also killed in the eastern city of Dnipro.
Four people were also wounded, and a private home and business were damaged.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Friday’s bombardment showed the Kremlin isn’t interested in a peace deal.
He said: “Missile strikes killing innocent Ukrainians in their sleep, including a two year-old child, is Russia ’s response.
“The way to peace is to kick Russia out of Ukraine.”
Missiles were fired from warplanes in the Caspian Sea, according to Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander in Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Overall, he said, Ukraine intercepted many of the 23 Kh-101 and Kh-555 type cruise missiles launched, as well as the two drones.
