Russia has acknowledged its attacks in Ukraine overnight, saying in a statement released by the Ministry of Defence, Moscow that its forces struck Ukraine in response to “terrorist acts.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the assault was formed of more than 400 drones and 40 missiles.
So far, 49 people have been reported injured, he said, while the number of people killed could still rise from the current figure of three.
All were rescue workers, he added.
Earlier, officials said four people were killed in Kyiv.
“They targeted almost all of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
“Russia must be held accountable for this. Since the first minute of this war, they have been striking cities and villages to destroy life.”
He repeated calls for pressure on Russia, and warned “giving the war more time” becomes “complicity and accountability. We must act decisively,” he said.
Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said earlier four people had died in the capital, though Ukrainian officials now say the figure stands at three.
Here’s the Russian MoD’s statement in full:
“Tonight, in response to the terrorist acts of the Kyiv regime, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a massive strike with high-precision long-range air, sea and land-based weapons, as well as attack UAVs, on design bureaus, enterprises for the production and repair of weapons and military equipment of Ukraine, workshops for the assembly of attack drones, training centres for flight personnel, as well as warehouses of weapons and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“The goal of the strike was achieved. All designated objects were hit.”
Over the weekend, Ukraine used drones to strike heavy bomber planes at airbases in Siberia and the far north of Russia.
Russia also accused Ukraine of blowing up rail bridges in the south.
Noises from Moscow since then have been about retaliation, with Donald Trump telling reporters yesterday Vladimir Putin’s response will “not be pretty”.
“I don’t like it, I said don’t do it, you shouldn’t do it, you should stop it,” Trump said he told the Russian president.
Putin’s mouthpiece, Dmitry Peskov, said Russia is obliged to hit back – and it will happen as and when its military sees fit.
Written with reports from Sky News
