Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday condemned the United States for what he described as an ‘unacceptably weak’ response to a Russian missile strike that killed 19 civilians and injured more than 70 others in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy took to X to call the attack ‘a massacre’ and accused Moscow of displaying ‘no deeper level of cynicism, vileness, or hatred.’ He expressed frustration over the US Embassy’s reaction, criticizing it for not explicitly naming Russia in their response to the strike. Zelenskyy urged global leaders to issue clear condemnations and not remain silent, insisting that every such strike should be met with a global response.
The Ukrainian leader acknowledged the support from European and Asian partners who spoke out against the attack, but he singled out Washington for its muted tone. He emphasized that calling out the aggressor by name is essential to ending the war.
Zelenskyy also renewed his appeal for stronger military
support, specifically mentioning the need for additional air defense systems. He expressed hope for the delivery of Patriot systems from the United States, insisting that strength and coordinated action with partners are necessary to stop the violence and save lives.
The missile strike, which occurred late Friday, targeted a civilian area in Kryvyi Rih. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the local defense council, reported the incident. Regional authorities confirmed that a Russian ballistic missile caused significant destruction in the city, which has repeatedly been targeted since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The attack happened amid ongoing US-mediated ceasefire and peace negotiations, marking it as one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in recent weeks. As of Saturday, Russian officials had not issued a statement in response to the claims.