The Russian strike kills 16, including six children, says Ukraine

Local officials said a Russian missile strike on Friday at Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine, killed at least 16 people, including six children, and wounded more than 50 people. This was the latest in a series of Russian attacks on urban centers in recent days, despite the ongoing ceasefire talks, which caused major civilian losses.

Serhii Lysak, head of the Dniproptrovsk region, which includes Kryvyi Rih, Social media The missile hit a residential neighborhood, with a nearby stadium. Other officials have warned that the death toll may rise as rescuers continue to search for the rubble for the victims.

Russian Ministry of Defense Recognized The missile strike on Kryvyi RIH on Friday. He claimed that the missile targeted a restaurant where Ukrainian leaders and Western military trainers were gathering, killing a total of 85 soldiers.

Moscow has long claimed that it only aims at military targets, though Russian direct strikes on civilian areas and facilities It is often documented by journalists and independent organizations.

The attack came on Friday, when Russia seemed to have increased its attacks on civilian areas in recent weeks. Kryvyi Rih, the birthplace Four people were killed. On Thursday, a Russian drone attack was killed on the eastern city of Kharkif, four people, According to the mayor of the city.

The number of civil losses cannot be verified independently.

The high losses come unusually on Friday, as both countries are involved in the ceasefire negotiations, partially aimed at reducing the impact of the war on civilians. Ukraine and Russia have so far been committed to stopping the attacks on the energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea, but these pieces have not yet been carried out, with both sides accusing some violations.

The beginning of the ceasefire negotiations in mid -February raised hopes that the fighting was aimed at, as the two sides were aiming to demonstrate in the United States, the mediator, that they were ready to participate and reach an agreement. But the war broke out uncomfortable.

A series of Ukrainian cities, many of them, has suffered from the front lines, from fatal strikes. A major attack by Russian drones on Kyiv, the capital, Three civilians were killed Late last month, the US -mediating talks began to discuss partial ceasefire in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its attacks, including the launch of drones inside Russia.

in After social mediaMr. Zellinski said that Friday’s attack was evidence that “Russia does not want to stop the shooting, and we see it.”

Mr. Zelinski echoed wide feelings in Ukraine that the Kremlin participated in stopping negotiations as an empty show of goodwill to Carrie with the White House, but he has no intention to stop the fighting.

Ukraine initially agreed to a 30 -day unlawful ceasefire to stop all fighting. But Russia rejected the proposal and instead suggested that it focus a limited truce on the Black Sea and Energy infrastructure, which accepted Ukraine last week.

Since then, the two sides have accused each other of attacking their energy systems. Moscow demanded that economic sanctions be lifted before the armistice entered into the sea, which is effectively freezing.

It seems that the Trump administration I have been tired of setting the ceasefire negotiations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Brussels on Friday that Russia was running out time to persuade the Trump administration that it was serious about a peace agreement with Ukraine.

“We are testing to see if the Russians are interested in peace,” Mr. Rubio added. “Their actions – not their words, and their actions – will determine whether they are serious or not, and we intend to discover this sooner and not later.”

Pictures of the effects of Friday’s attack, published by Mr. Zellinski, showed bodies on the herb, which seemed to be a stadium, some of which are covered with rescue blankets. Around the stadium, tree peaks are torn and built windows with an explosion.

Olina Green, the wife of Mr. Zellinski, published a Long and emotional message On social media after the attack, referring to a series of recent Russian strikes that killed civilians.

“What happens in Ukraine? Is it more calm now? We have heard something about the ceasefire, “asking foreigners, away from the war.”

“We have heard something” too, of course, “she continued. “The alarm sounds. Rockets and drones are shouting and crying. We hear them so far. They are with us forever.”