World Must Respond: Ukraine's Zelenskyy Calls Russian Strike 'Clear Escalation'

Kyiv, Ukraine - In a scathing attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the latest Russian strike on its territory "a clear and severe escalation" in the ongoing war, urging the international community to take strong action against Russia's aggression.

The Russian strike, which involved the use of a new type of ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik", hit a Ukrainian military facility in the city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine's largest cities. Zelenskyy, who has accused Russia of lying about its intentions, said that this attack marked the second step towards escalation following Russia's involvement of North Korean forces in the conflict.

"Involving 11,000 soldiers...and today using a ballistic missile against us is yet more proof that Russia has no interest in peace," Zelenskyy tweeted on Friday. "Putin lies when he claims that Ukraine's use of long-range weapons is somehow a new step for us."

The Ukrainian President's comments come after Putin stated that Moscow had struck the facility with the "Oreshnik" missile, warning that additional strikes could follow, but assured civilians would be warned in advance.

Russia fired eight "Kinzhal" hypersonic missiles at Ukraine earlier this week, which it claimed were in retaliation for Ukraine's use of Western missiles on Russian territory. The conflict has lasted over 1,000 days and has seen both sides deploy troops and artillery across the border.

The renewed escalation has raised concerns among world leaders, with many calling for a strong response to Russia's actions. As tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, Zelenskyy's call for international condemnation is being watched closely by governments around the globe.