Kiev [Ukraine], April 6: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy has released details about the children killed in a Russian airstrike on his home city of Kryvyi Rih on Friday. The 3-year-old Tymofij, 7-year-old Arina and 9-year-old Herman were among the nine children killed in the Russian strike, Zelensky wrote on X on Saturday.
Nine adults were also killed when a Russian ballistic missile hit the south-eastern city of Kryvyi Rih, followed by a drone attack, Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president thanked foreign ministers and embassies that had offered condolences after Friday's attack. However, he said the response from the US embassy was "surprisingly disappointing." "They are even afraid to say the word 'Russian' when talking about the missile that killed children," Zelensky wrote.
In a post on X, the US ambassador to Kiev, Bridget Brink, expressed horror at the fact that "a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi Rih." Moscow has confirmed the attack, but spoke of a "high-precision strike," which it said hit Ukrainian commanders and their Western instructors. In a Telegram post, the Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev described the Russian claim as a lie.
The ballistic missile damaged multi-story apartment buildings and set cars and garages on fire, said Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration, on Telegram. More than 50 people were injured. Officials said the missile struck near a children's playground.
The Russian military confirmed the strike on Kryvyi Rih, describing it as a "high-precision" operation.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the target was a restaurant where Ukrainian commanders were allegedly meeting with Western instructors.
"The attack made the enemy lose up to 85 service members and military officers from foreign countries," the statement said. Moscow did not mention any civilian casualties.
Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky's hometown, lies about 70 kilometres from the front line.
Images of the scene of the attack published by the Ukrainian side showed no evidence of any military targets.
Meanwhile, top military officials from France and the United Kingdom visited Kiev on Saturday for high-level talks aimed at ramping up support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
French Chief of Staff Thierry Burkhard travelled to the Ukrainian capital alongside his British counterpart Tony Radakin.
The pair met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss further military aid for Ukraine and a long-term strategy for the restructuring of the Ukrainian armed forces, Burkhard wrote on X.
The army chiefs also discussed the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, Burkhard said.
France and the UK have signalled willingness to send troops to Ukraine as part of a so-called "coalition of the willing" to monitor a potential ceasefire, but are looking for further partners. "Together, we want to ensure a lasting and firm peace in Ukraine, which is an important prerequisite for the security of the European continent," Burkhard wrote.
Source: Qatar Tribune
