The Vinnytsia airport was “completely destroyed” when Russian missiles struck Ukraine’s central-western city, the nation’s president said on Sunday.
In a video message on Telegram, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces continue to destroy infrastructures in Ukraine.
“I’ve just heard the report on the missile strike at Vinnytsia, eight missiles. Against our city, against our peaceful Vinnytsia, which has never posed a threat to Russia in any way,” he said.
Zelenskyy said the “brutal and cynical” missile strike destroyed the airport.
A statement from the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the airport was targeted by “long-range, high-precision weapons.”
The president reiterated his call for a no-fly zone over Ukraine and stressed the importance of establishing humanitarian aid corridors.
“We are people and it is your humanitarian duty to protect us, to protect people. And you can do it,” he urged the international community.
He called out to world leaders: “If you do not do that, if you at least do not give us aircraft for us to be able to protect ourselves, there can be only one conclusion: You also want us to be slowly killed.”
Russia’s war on Ukraine has been met by outrage from the international community with the EU, UK, and US, among others, implementing a range of economic sanctions on Moscow.
At least 364 civilians, including 38 children and 42 women, have been killed, and 759 others injured in Ukraine since Russia launched a war in the Eastern European country on Feb. 24, according to UN figures, with the real toll feared to be higher.
More than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.
Source: AA
