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Russian strike kills 18 in Ukraine: Zelensky says diplomacy means nothing to them

“The whole world sees it,” he said. “Each missile, every attack drone proves that Russia seeks only war.”

Published

2 years ago

April 5, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a scathing rebuke following a devastating Russian ballistic missile strike on his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, which killed at least 18 people, including nine children. Zelensky said that “diplomacy means nothing” to Russia, accusing the country of deliberately targeting civilians and rejecting peace efforts.

The strike, which occurred in a residential area near a children’s playground, left a trail of destruction, with unverified videos circulating online showing bodies on the street and plumes of smoke rising into the evening sky. Cars were seen engulfed in flames, and the cries of shocked residents echoed in the background.

Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor Sergiy Lysak confirmed on Saturday, April 5, that the death toll stood at 18, with 61 others injured, including 12 children. “This is the kind of pain you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy,” Lysak stated on Telegram, reflecting the profound grief in the city.

According to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih’s military administration, the missile hit its target with precision, striking a densely populated area on Friday evening. Emergency operations continued overnight, but the scale of the tragedy was evident as rescue teams worked to clear rubble and aid the wounded.

Zelensky, who grew up in Kryvyi Rih, described the attack as no accident. “These strikes cannot be accidental – the Russians know exactly what they’re hitting,” he said in a post on X.

He pointed to additional attacks on the same day, including a drone strike in Kharkiv that killed five people and injured 34, and a targeted strike on an energy facility in Kherson, the Kherson thermal power plant, using a Russian FPV drone.

“Every Russian promise ends with missiles or drones, bombs or artillery,” Zelensky added, lamenting that Moscow has refused a ceasefire since March 11, despite ongoing international efforts.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that Russia’s actions demonstrate a clear rejection of peace. “A ceasefire could have already been reached – it is Putin who rejects it, it is Moscow that wants this war,” he said. He called for “sufficient pressure on Russia” to make them face the consequences of their actions daily, urging global partners, particularly the United States and Europe, to strengthen support for Ukraine.

“We count on their ability to put pressure on the sole cause of this war: Russia’s desire to destroy and kill,” Zelensky stated, expressing gratitude to those worldwide working toward a just peace.

Russia’s defense ministry, however, offered a conflicting narrative, claiming on Saturday that its forces had conducted a “precision strike with a high-explosive missile” on a restaurant in Kryvyi Rih, targeting a meeting of Ukrainian military commanders and Western instructors.

The ministry alleged up to 85 people were killed, including foreign officers, but provided no evidence to support this claim. It also reported that Russian air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 49 Ukrainian drones overnight, signaling continued escalation.

The attack on Kryvyi Rih, a city of around 600,000 people located about 70 kilometers from the front line, is part of a pattern of intensified Russian assaults on civilian areas, despite ceasefire talks. Earlier this week, another strike in the city killed four people, and the region has faced near-weekly attacks on residential targets.

The use of an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead, as reported in posts on social media, suggests a deliberate intent to maximize casualties, drawing widespread condemnation.

Zelensky’s plea for international action comes as global leaders, including those from the UK and France, have accused Russia of stalling peace negotiations. The tragedy has reignited calls for stronger air defenses and military support for Ukraine, with Zelensky emphasizing that only decisive action can force Russia to end the conflict. “The whole world sees it,” he said. “Each missile, every attack drone proves that Russia seeks only war.”

Related Topics:Missile strike Russia Ukraine Zelensky

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Putin praises PM Modi, says he has very good ideas on Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for repeatedly raising the need to end the Ukraine war, describing his ideas for a settlement as “very good”.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 2, 2026

APNLive Desk

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continued efforts to promote an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, saying the Indian leader has “very good ideas” aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution.

Putin made the remarks while addressing the Valdai Forum of international Russia experts, where he spoke about Modi’s repeated efforts to raise the issue of ending the conflict.

What Putin said about PM Modi

Putin said Modi has continued to raise the question of ending the conflict despite the close and friendly relationship between India and Russia.

According to Putin, the Prime Minister has shown a strong interest in finding a solution and has ideas that could help identify mutually acceptable ways to resolve the conflict.

Putin also described India’s position as neutral while highlighting Modi’s interest in bringing the conflict to an end through peaceful means.

The Russian president expressed gratitude to Modi for his ideas and his desire to see the conflict end as soon as possible.

Modi’s position on the Ukraine war

PM Modi has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts, including during his meetings with Putin.

During their September 11 meeting in New Delhi, Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward for resolving conflicts.

Modi had also told Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek that the situation needed to move from “endless war” towards an end to the war.

India has consistently maintained that conflicts should be addressed through dialogue and peaceful means, with Modi previously describing the present period as not being an era of war.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022 and has continued despite repeated diplomatic efforts to seek a resolution.

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S Jaishankar calls Pakistan a “serial practitioner of terrorism” at UN

S Jaishankar criticised Pakistan at the UN General Assembly, referring to a “serial practitioner of terrorism” and warning against attempts to normalise terrorism.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 27, 2026

APNLive Desk

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Pakistan during his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying that a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had misrepresented facts and that arguments were being made to normalise terrorism.

Jaishankar’s remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke about the 2025 military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Jaishankar’s message to Pakistan

Referring to Pakistan without naming it directly in that remark, Jaishankar said a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had misrepresented facts before the UN General Assembly.

He said arguments were being made to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences, adding that such an approach would not stand.

Jaishankar reiterated India’s position that the country would exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism.

He also said that friendship and goodwill could not coexist with terrorism and that understandings based on such circumstances would naturally be called into question.

“It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” Jaishankar said.

India stresses zero tolerance on terrorism

Jaishankar described terrorism as a persistent threat to peace and called for governments involved in cross-border terrorism to be held accountable.

He also stressed that there should be no dilution in India’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and particularly called for greater attention to its financial aspects.

His remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif referred to the 2025 India-Pakistan military confrontation during his UN General Assembly address.

Jaishankar backs two-state solution for Palestine

During his UN address, Jaishankar also spoke about the situation in West Asia and said India was prepared to contribute to efforts addressing food and energy security amid continuing tensions and violence.

On the Palestine issue, he reiterated India’s longstanding support for a two-state solution.

Jaishankar said India was also contributing humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for the Palestinian people.

He also warned about continuing threats and pressures around the world and stressed the need for greater stability, security and predictability.

Latest world news

Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.