Three individuals have been killed and 6 others injured when a Russian missile hit a five-storey house constructing in a metropolis in south-eastern Ukraine, police mentioned.

President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned a number of flooring of the constructing have been destroyed within the strike, which occurred whereas it was darkish.

The State Emergency Service mentioned in an internet assertion that it had rescued 11 individuals to this point.

Zaporizhzhia is a big metropolis that had a inhabitants of greater than 700,000 earlier than Russia’s invasion of its neighbour simply over a 12 months in the past. It is the executive capital of the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia area, which is residence to Europe’s largest nuclear plant.

Russian artillery, drones and missiles have pounded Ukrainian-held areas within the nation’s south and east for months. Moscow denies aiming at civilian targets however its indiscriminate shelling has wrought vast destruction in city centres.

The warfare largely slowed to a grinding stalemate through the winter months.

Mr Zelensky mentioned Russia “wants to turn every day for our people into a day of terror”. He added: “But evil will not reign in our land.”

Meanwhile, a fierce battle continued for management of Bakhmut, a key jap stronghold the place Ukrainian officers say they could strategically withdraw.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported that the Russian forces “continue to advance and storm the city” however Kyiv’s troops repelled a few of the assaults. Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported one individual was wounded in Bakhmut on Thursday morning.

Bakhmut was amongst cities and villages within the Donetsk area that got here beneath Russian shelling, in response to the General Staff replace.

Taking the town couldn’t solely give the Russian forces a uncommon battlefield acquire after months of setbacks however may rupture Ukraine’s provide strains and permit the Kremlin’s forces to press in the direction of different Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk.