EU says Russia hit Ukrainian emergency services responding to strikes

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER WAR CRIME

16.04.2026, DPA

Photo: Markus Lenhardt/dpa-ENR Pool/dpa

European Council President António Costa has accused Moscow of targeting first responders in the latest massive wave of Russian airstrikes across Ukraine overnight.

At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in missile and drone attacks on the cities of Odessa, Kiev and Dnipro, officials said on Thursday.

"Russian armed forces deliberately carried out follow-up strikes on Ukrainian emergency services as first responders arrived to save lives," wrote Costa on X.

"Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has failed, and so it chooses to deliberately terrorize civilians," he said, adding that "Russia must stop this war of terror."

Costa said that the EU will continue to increase pressure on Russia and uphold its support for Ukraine.

Hopes are high in Brussels that a new package of sanctions on Moscow and a €90 billion ($106 billion) loan for Ukraine can finally be implemented after Kremlin-friendly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is set to leave office after an election defeat.

At least 14 killed, scores injured as Russia pounds Ukrainian cities

16.04.2026 DPA

Photo: Natasha Rudenko/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

By Holger Mehlig, dpa

At least 14 people were killed and scores injured in a massive wave of Russian airstrikes across Ukraine overnight, officials said on Thursday.

The southern port of Odessa was hit hard, with the head of the city's military administration, Serhiy Lysak, reporting eight dead and 16 injured in several waves of missile and drone attacks.

In Kiev, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that four people were killed and 45 injured in the bombardment. He said the dead included a 12-year-old child and urged residents to remain in shelters as the city was attacked again.

Journalists from The Kyiv Independent reported multiple explosions as missiles struck the city in several waves.

Damage to residential and commercial buildings was reported across several districts, said the city's military administration head, Tymur Tkachenko.

Emergency services rescued a child from the rubble of a damaged apartment block. The child and the mother were receiving treatment.

Air raid alerts were also issued in other regions. In Dnipro, at least two people were killed and 27 injured in a missile strike, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said on Telegram.

Five of the injured were in a critical condition and several residential buildings caught fire.

Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion for more than four years. Since the start of the war, Moscow has repeatedly attacked areas far behind the front line, also hitting civilian infrastructure.