Zelenskyy Calls Russian Strikes ‘Terrorism’, Urges Tougher Sanctions After Kyiv Deaths

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged stronger sanctions against Russia after reporting deadly strikes on Kyiv that damaged schools, kindergartens, homes and communications facilities.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy described the selection of targets as “terrorism” and accused Moscow of using reassuring diplomatic signals to delay international action while continuing its attacks.

“Russia has no military objective whatsoever in doing this – it is purely an attempt to break people and inflict as much harm as possible on our society,” he said.

Zelenskyy reported deaths and dozens of injuries but did not specify a death toll in the remarks.

Schools and Children’s Facilities Damaged

According to Zelenskyy, Russian jet-powered drones struck two kindergartens, two schools, a residential building, an auto repair shop, warehouses and communications facilities in Kyiv.

He said Russia had deployed 277 attack drones of various types since the previous day, including 155 jet-powered drones.

A building used as the Saudi Arabian ambassador’s residence was also among the damaged sites, he said. Elsewhere, he reported damage to a sports school in the Dnipro region and a regional children’s home in the Sumy region.

Zelenskyy argued that the attacks contradicted Russia’s claims that it was preparing steps towards de-escalation.

“Russia knows how to send the kind of encouraging diplomatic signals that the world simply wants to hear,” he said, accusing Moscow of using those messages to buy more time for war.

Call for Sanctions to Take Effect in October

Zelenskyy called for full implementation of what he described as US sanctions and tariffs legislation associated with Senator Lindsey Graham, saying it had reached the implementation stage.

He urged other G7 and G20 partners to take a firmer position and increase pressure on Moscow.

New sanctions packages were being prepared against Russian financial networks, suppliers of components and equipment used in weapons production, and companies and individuals involved in manufacturing ballistic missiles, he said.

“The new sanctions must take effect as early as October to provide a stronger foundation for changing the situation and pushing Russia toward real diplomacy,” Zelenskyy added.

Russia Claims Military-Linked Targets

Russia’s Defence Ministry separately said its forces had attacked an Omega Telecom data centre in Kyiv, a Novaya Pochta logistics centre in Odesa and a cargo ship heading towards the port of Odesa, according to state news agency TASS.

The ministry alleged that the data centre provided services to Ukraine’s armed forces, the logistics facility stored military cargo and the vessel carried military equipment and dual-use goods.

Russia also said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed 43 Ukrainian drones during Sunday over several Russian regions, Crimea and the Black Sea.

Shelling Reported in Donetsk

In another report, TASS cited Russian-installed authorities in Donetsk as saying Ukrainian forces had carried out 11 shelling attacks on residential areas over the preceding 24 hours.

The authorities reported damage to two residential buildings and two civilian infrastructure facilities, but no civilian casualties.

The competing accounts came as diplomatic efforts continued without an announced settlement.

Speaking to Fox News on September 26 after a recent meeting with Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump said he wanted both the Ukrainian leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to end the war.

“I want him to settle with Putin, and I want Putin to settle with him,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy’s latest appeal pressed international partners to match those diplomatic efforts with sanctions that would increase the cost of continued Russian attacks.

With inputs from ANI