Russian strike with five aerial bombs on apartment blocks in Zaporizhzhia kills 15

Russia dropped five guided aerial bombs on residential buildings in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia today, killing 15 people, including three children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Sixteen people were wounded, two of them seriously, and doctors are fighting to save their lives.

All emergency services are at the scene, and search and rescue work continues. Officials are checking reports that 12 more people were likely at the site of the strike.

Overnight, Russia hit 13 Ukrainian regions, destroying residential buildings, infrastructure and a railway.

Zelensky linked the strike to the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports. "Today Russia said thank you for lifting the sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five guided bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia," he said.

Zelensky said the new strikes prove that pressure on Russia must grow. He said Russia takes every easing of restrictions as a signal that it can keep up the war and bomb cities, and that other signals are needed.

"Russia must understand that the war has to be stopped, and for that it must feel its losses," Zelensky said. He said Ukraine's long-range weapons are causing those losses.

Zelensky also said Ukraine will respond to the Russian strikes, and he thanked everyone who is helping.