Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the US embassy for issuing a statement that he considered too weak, as it did not explicitly blame Russia for a missile strike on his hometown. The incident, which occurred on Friday evening, targeted a residential area near a children’s playground in the central Ukrainian town of Kryvyi Rih, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals, including nine children. Additionally, 72 people were injured, with 12 being children. In response, the Dnipropetrovsk Governor, Sergiy Lysak, announced three days of mourning for the victims. Zelenskyy emotionally addressed the incident on social media, naming each of the children who were killed and accusing the US embassy of avoiding designating Russia as the aggressor. He expressed disappointment in the embassy’s reaction, specifically targeting a message posted by US Ambassador Bridget Brink that described the event without directly referencing Russia. Brink, who was appointed by Joe Biden, acknowledged the incident and emphasized the need for the war to end. In response, Zelenskyy stressed that ending the conflict required dealing with the situation realistically and without fear. The missile attack and subsequent drone strikes demonstrated Russia’s lack of interest in a ceasefire, as evidenced by the targeting of residential buildings, a playground, and civilian streets. The Russian defense ministry claimed that the strike had been aimed at a restaurant where Ukrainian commanders and Western instructors were allegedly meeting.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-zelenskyy-slams-us-reaction-to-russian-strike/live-72147551?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf