Russia\u2019s massive missile strike kills 25 people, including four children. Seven EU foreign ministers arrive in Odesa. Counteroffensive is not to be considered as final battle, Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Minister says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia launched another major missile strike against Ukrainian cities overnight into Friday. Ukraine\u2019s air defenses shot down 11 missiles and two drones near Kyiv. A missile destroyed an entire block of a nine-story apartment building in Uman, in Cherkasy region. A missile strike on Dnipro killed a woman and a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An air raid alert was declared across Ukraine in the early hours of Friday. In Kyiv, an air raid warning was issued at 4:02 a.m., and the all clear was given at 6:14 a.m. The Ukrainian capital was massively targeted by missiles for the first time since more than 50 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The overnight attack killed 25 people and injured 20 others in three regions \u2014 Cherkasy, Kyiv, and Dnipro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Uman, two missiles tore into several apartment buildings, causing destruction to an entire block of one of the houses. Twenty-three people were killed, including four children, and 18 others were injured. Cherkasy region declared three official days of mourning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A woman and a two-year-old child were killed in Dnipro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Ukrainka, in Kyiv region, two people, including a child, were injured as missile debris fell on an apartment building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRussian terror must face a fair response from Ukraine and the world,\u201d Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said. \u201cEvery such attack, every evil act against our country and people brings the terrorist state closer to failure and punishment,\u201d he added. The missile strikes are \u201cRussia\u2019s response to all peace initiatives,\u201d Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. \u201cThe way to peace is to kick Russia out of Ukraine,\u201d the Minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Friday, April 28, the foreign ministers of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, and a senior Foreign Ministry official from Finland arrived in Odesa at the invitation of Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201dI honestly don\u2019t remember if Odesa ever hosted this many ministers of foreign affairs at once. If this is the first such time, we are glad, together with our colleagues, to set a new standard,\u201d Kuleba said. \u201cThe visit began with a conference on reconstruction of Odesa region. It sends a clear signal, and I am truly grateful that the ministers have accepted an invitation to take part in the conference,\u201d Kuleba told a news conference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that together with his counterparts he visited the port of Odesa, where he was briefed on implementation of the Black Sea Grain and Grain from Ukraine initiatives. The ministers also discussed preparations for a NATO summit in Vilnius, opening of talks on Ukraine\u2019s accession to the EU, and establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kuleba asked his counterparts to accelerate decisions on training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jeys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five months ago the ministers were in Kyiv, Kuleba said. \u201cWe have decided to hold our next meeting in Crimea. We will work to achieve the goal,\u201d Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba called not to treat a Ukrainian counteroffensive as a decisive battle. A final battle will lead to complete liberation of Ukraine\u2019s territories, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCounteroffensive should not be treated as a final battle. A decisive battle will lead to complete liberation of Ukrainian territories. We could make the conclusion after, not before the battle,\u201d Kuleba told a joint news conference with his counterparts from Nordic and Baltic countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we need one counteroffensive, there will be one, if we need two or more counteroffensive operations, let it be so. This is not a conflict one could freeze,\u201d Kuleba said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People who consider counteroffensive as a final battle, \u201cdistort Ukraine\u2019s efforts\u201d. He added that Ukraine will fight until the victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n